A new milestone at the Pāpāmoa East Interchange, connecting Pāpāmoa to the Tauranga Eastern Link Toll Road, will be reached with the installation of the beams for the overbridge scheduled for mid-August.

Twelve concrete beams will be installed over four nights, weighing about 70 tonnes each, according to a statement from Tauranga City Council.

“Lifting the bridge beams into place to connect both sides of the Tauranga Eastern Link corridor is a major step towards completing the interchange and the culmination of years of planning, investigations, design and engagement with project partners, stakeholders and the local community,” said Chris Barton, the council’s major projects director.

“The Pāpāmoa East Interchange is a vital piece of transport infrastructure that, once open, will provide faster connections for the Pāpāmoa community to destinations across the wider Bay of Plenty. It’s also a crucial component in unlocking additional residential and commercial development in the area, by providing the necessary additional transport capacity.”

Pāpāmoa Ward councillor Steve Morris said he knows how highly anticipated this connection is for residents in Pāpāmoa East.

“The interchange is a vital connection that will ease the daily commute for thousands of local residents. It will significantly reduce travel times for people in our community, whether they’re on the road for work, errands or leisure. The improved accessibility is a win for everyone,” Morris said.

Construction for the interchange started in mid-2022 and included the extension of Te Okuroa Drive and a new intersection between Te Okuroa Drive and the future The Sands Ave, as well as water services upgrades to cater for population growth in the area.

The formal opening of the Pāpāmoa East Interchange is less than a year away, scheduled for mid-2026.

The project team is also working to allow vehicle access through the construction site by opening the eastbound off-ramp under traffic management in late August.

Installation of the 70-tonne concrete bridge beams will involve several huge trucks and cranes, so a full closure to traffic on the Tauranga Eastern Link Toll Road/SH2 is required.

This work will be done at night, with a diversion for traffic via the Te Puke Highway for four nights from 8pm to 6am, starting on Tuesday, August 19 (weather dependent).

Details on traffic impacts will be widely shared in the weeks ahead of the closure, including via digital signs at the entry to the Tauranga Eastern Link.

More information is available on the Let’s Talk Tauranga website.