Greater volumes of freight mass will soon be able to be transported between the lower Kaimais and Tauranga as the NZ Transport Agency carries out work on three bridges along State Highway 29.

The bridge strengthening works form part of a national programme by the Transport Agency aimed at opening up more key High Productivity Motor Vehicles [HPMV] routes between Auckland, Waikato, and Tauranga.

Road works will start near Soldiers Road at the Te Ahara Stream Bridge on Thursday, January 30.

The agency's highways manager Brett Gliddon says because HPMVs carry more freight per trip, they reduce the number of trips needed to improve productivity and cope with increasing freight volumes.

'The reduction in travel offers significant commercial advantages – including lower vehicle operating costs, driver hours and fuel – as well as safety benefits from the reduced crash risk that fewer truck trips provide.

'With the potential for productivity gains, industry will invest in newer, safer truck combinations to operate on New Zealand's state highways and roads.”

Brett says these newer trucks tend to be quieter and cleaner than the vehicles they replace, while the fuel savings mean reduced carbon emissions for each tonne of freight moved.

He says the Transport Agency is improving freight efficiency by increasing network access for HPMVs, which are able to carry greater loads than conventional trucks.

This will allow more freight to be moved in fewer trips, and unlock the benefits from industry investment in these newer, more efficient trucks.

The first lot of works will start near Soldiers Road at the Te Ahara Stream Bridge on Thursday, January 30.

Motorists travelling along SH29 are advised to expect delays as there will be a single lane closure with a manual stop/go traffic management operation in place from 7am until 6pm.

Further lane closures will be required from time to time as the works progress onto the other SH29 bridges at Kopurererua, and Kaukumoutiti over the next four months.