A structural assessment has confirmed the Hairini Bridge is strong enough to support Tauranga City Council’s proposed upgrades as part of the 15th Ave to Welcome Bay transport project.
The finding marks a significant step forward for the long-planned upgrade, with the council’s City Delivery Committee endorsing the project to move into the next phase of design at its meeting on August 5.
Committee chairwoman and deputy mayor Jen Scoular said the assessment provides certainty for the project as planning progresses.
“This is an important milestone. It means we can now move forward with detailed design work across the rest of the Fifteenth Avenue to Welcome Bay travel route.”
The $140 million project aims to ease peak-hour congestion, improve travel times, increase safety, particularly at intersections, and provide better connections for people walking and cycling.
The council is also investigating an alternative option for the bridge crossing, which would involve constructing a separate walking and cycling bridge alongside the existing structure rather than attaching a clip-on pathway.
Scoular said the option is being assessed to determine whether it could reduce construction-related disruption and provide greater durability over the long term.
As planning continues, attention has already turned to the potential impact of construction, particularly if work on the Welcome Bay route overlaps with upgrades on Cameron Rd.
Council director of major projects Jane Small said the council was aware of concerns about disruption on key transport corridors.
“That’s why we’re working closely to carefully plan staging and timing. Delivering improvements in a fast-growing city can cause disruption, but our goal is to minimise this as much as possible.”
Proposed 15th Ave, Turret Rd and Hairini Bridge and causeway changes as part of the 15th Ave to Welcome Bay project. Graphic / Tauranga City Council
Small said the next design phase would focus on confirming how features such as tidal traffic flows would operate safely, particularly around side streets.
The council will also work to ensure the project remains within budget while delivering the best outcomes for residents.
Community feedback on the design is expected to be sought this year.
The council plans to seek construction funding from NZ Transport Agency Waka Kotahi in mid-2027.
Subject to funding approval, construction is expected to begin between late 2027 and early 2028, with completion targeted for mid-2029.
Further information is available through the council’s Welcome Bay project engagement page.
9 comments
Funny time….
Posted on 10-08-2026 11:48 | By Shadow1
…for public consultation, after the plans are made. Obviously the public will be ignored as usual. The idea of a separate bridge for cyclists and pedestrians is a nice thing to have, but certainly not on the original plans. A second two lane bridge is also not on the plans even though it is necessary,not just a “ nice to have”. Also it would inconvenience ratepayers less than the 3 laning that is proposed.
Shadow1.
Hairini Bridge
Posted on 10-08-2026 12:53 | By You Must be Joking !
It is a "No Brainer" that a second two lane bridge be built adjacent to the current structure, however the "No Brainers" in Council have decided otherwise. A new bridge with newly reclaimed 2 lane roadway on the estuary floor could be built for half the $140 million cost and cause only a fraction of the disruption planned by the Numpties
Hirini Bridge
Posted on 10-08-2026 13:04 | By Colinbrent
How ridicules in my opinion not to future proof with four lanes while the prime opportunity exists, instead of 3 lanes plus ongoing traffic management on a daily basis. We all know how efficient that is going to run don't we? Please, less of the nice to haves in the CBD instead of proper thought into traffic necessities for the proposed intensified housing etc. for Welcome Bay, Ohauiti, Pyes Pa and surrounding suburbs
Turret rd
Posted on 10-08-2026 15:29 | By terry spalding
I Cant Believe the Council are going with the three lane road on Turret rd when its very clear we need Four lanes,What are they thinking?They purchased those Motor camps along time ago to build four lanes & for it to come out further up 15th Ave,I read them say they need to open up 15th because its slowing down Tauranga Growth for a Second i liked what i Heard,Building three lanes with the cross over is ridiculous,Which way will it go on Saturdays or Sundays & by the time they do it it will be just as bad as it is now or even worse,They could make it four lanes & close off Turret like they have done at the other end & make a nice little park,But no not our Council,Years ago they did it to Chapel street didnt work a,Sort it out Council,We pay for it
Short sighted
Posted on 10-08-2026 19:22 | By ThinkLongTerm
Completely agree with Shadow1. Spending over $140m on a temporary tidal lane is ridiculous. We need to build for the future, not a "now" problem that will already be at max capacity by the time they actually finish building it. If you're going to spend that kind of money, do it right the first time and build a second bridge offline. That would also mitigate the proposed years of construction disruption.
KISS principle
Posted on 11-08-2026 07:56 | By CliftonGuy
The simplest and most logical plan going forward is to double up the bridge. Any other half-assed solution will only require this step in the long run.
Take a page out of the Auckland Harbour Bridge. It was designed for four lanes each way, then accountants interfered and it was built with two each way. A few years later, traffic density required the Nippon Clipons to be added. They did not even built the supporting structure to accomodate future expansion.
Think ahead and plan for it, rather than put the burden on future generations!
Shadow1 has nailed it
Posted on 11-08-2026 13:13 | By morepork
The bottom line is whether we should pay $140 million for a TEMPORARY solution. It certainly smacks of kicking the can down the road so our kids can deal with it. (As if they won'thave enough to deal with...)
In a few years [not many]
Posted on 11-08-2026 13:38 | By earlybird
I'm sure the question will be, why didn't council build another 2 lane bridge to provide a permanent solution, rather than a 3 lane conversion as a temporary solution. It doesn't really make sense and I'm sure future ratepayers will rue that decision when they have to fork out for another bridge.
CliftonGuy is right
Posted on 11-08-2026 15:38 | By Tga Citizen
You don't need to look at the Auckland Harbour bridge. We tried it with our own harbour bridge. Originally it was proposed as two lanes eachway, but it was changed to one lane each way, and finished in 1988 as a toll road. Twenty years later, Winston Peters, in a deal with Labour, got funding for a second toll free bridge. So if you are still around in twenty years you may see the second bridge built at Turret Road, but don't count on it. We have had council consultations for over twenty years about making a new double lane bridge because it was needed back then, and this is what they propose. Couldn't make it up.
Leave a Comment
You must be logged in to make a comment.