The New Zealand Transport Agency has awarded the contract for the investigation into improvements on State Highway 29 near Tauriko.
Opus International Consultants Ltd has the $1.2 million contract to develop a way to improve safety and efficiency for all road users on this stretch.

Opus International Consultants Ltd will investigate possible changes to SH29 near Tauriko over the next year.

Earlier studies of the route identified options varying from realignments to a complete bypass of Tauriko.
This investigation is meant to review possible options, consider their social and environmental effects, select the most appropriate solution after public consultation, undertake geotechnical studies and develop a preliminary design for the preferred route.
This access into Tauranga is surrounded by development and a growing number of local road users have to contend with the high proportion of heavy vehicles on this key freight route heading between the Waikato and the Port of Tauranga.
NZTA Bay of Plenty projects team manager Kevin Reid says the investigation will get underway in September.
"People can expect to hear from us with potential options for their consideration later in 2010," says Kevin.
The investigation is expected to take about one year to complete.