Tauranga transport projects continue to advance under NZTA’s newly released Major Transport Projects Pipeline, with both Takitimu North Link Stage 1 and the SH29 Tauriko West project listed among the works already under construction.

Transport Minister Chris Bishop said in a statement that the pipeline outlined how major road and public transport projects would be delivered across New Zealand, with several Bay of Plenty projects already under construction or progressing towards future stages.

Among the projects listed in Phase One – covering works under construction or procurement – are Takitimu North Link Stage 1 and the SH29 Tauriko West project, including the new Ōmanawa Bridge.

The Government said six Roads of National Significance (RoNS) would be under construction by early next year.

James Smith, general manager of policy and advocacy for the National Road Carriers Association (NRC), welcomed the pipeline, saying it would improve safety, resilience and productivity while creating work opportunities for the transport and civil construction sectors.

“NRC is pleased to see progress on these important projects as they add much-needed resilience, safety and productivity.

“As the projects reach their construction stages, it will also provide much-needed work for NRC members in the civil sector.”

Further gains for the Western Bay are also signalled in Phase Two, which includes route protection work for the wider SH29 Tauriko project and preparations for Takitimu North Link Stage 2.

Takitimu North Link Stage 2 recently received consent through the Fast-track Approvals Act, clearing a key hurdle before construction funding becomes available.

Bishop said a phased approach was necessary because big transport projects required route protection, consenting, detailed design and property acquisition before large-scale construction could begin.

“As funding becomes available, these projects can progress to construction.”

The transport pipeline forms part of the Government’s broader infrastructure programme, which aims to improve freight efficiency, reduce congestion and strengthen transport resilience.

For Tauranga, where population growth and freight movements continue to place pressure on the transport network, the progress of SH29 and Takitimu North Link projects is expected to play a significant role in improving connections between the Bay of Plenty, Waikato and the Port of Tauranga.

The NRC, which represents about 1500 supply chain companies operating 16,000 trucks nationwide, said the pipeline provided confidence for both the transport and construction sectors by creating a clearer long-term programme of work.