Pāpāmoa East Interchange construction
Tauranga is growing and changing fast. The coastal fringe is expected to grow significantly over the next 40 years, reaching up to 30,000 people by 2060. This includes more people and more traffic to get people to where they want to go.
We are committed to developing ‘liveable communities’ that ensure people are optimally connected to the places they live, learn, work and play.
To unlock development at Pāpāmoa East and allow further growth at Golden Sands and Wairākei, we will be constructing a new interchange at the eastern end of Te Okuroa Drive, to provide access to the motorway.
This interchange will enable faster travel between neighbourhoods in Pāpāmoa East and Tauranga city centre, Mount Maunganui and Te Puke for people choosing to travel by car. It will also provide a connection to the Rangiuru Business Park once that is operational.
The intersection will be constructed across the Tauranga Eastern Link Toll Road/State Highway 2 (SH2), east of the Wairākei neighbourhood, linking Te Okuroa Drive and future The Sands Avenue. Earthworks to prepare for construction start in mid-July 2022 and the interchange is scheduled to be ready for use early 2026. This work will have some impacts on traffic on the TEL TR – reduced speed and lane closures will apply when necessary to keep drivers and construction crew safe.
Artists impression of the new Pāpāmoa East Interchange
Why is this important?
Over the past few years, development in Pāpāmoa East has increased pressure on Tara Road as the main connection to SH2. This project will provide residents in the area with an alternative route and enable further development in Pāpāmoa East which helps support Tauranga’s growth. The Pāpāmoa East Interchange will ensure the community is connected to opportunities to live and work within parameters as defined by Smartgrowth’s UFTI.
Partners
This project is a collaboration between Tauranga City Council and Waka Kotahi NZ Transport Agency with support from Bay of Plenty Regional Council and Western Bay of Plenty District Council. The work is guided by designers Bloxam Burnett & Olliver (BBO) and construction is in the hands of HEB Construction Ltd.
We are also working with our iwi partners Te Kapu o Waitaha, Tapuika Iwi Authority, Ngā Pōtiki a Tamapahore Trust and Te Rununga o Ngāti Whakaue ki Maketū. This partnership includes capturing and documenting stories from tangata whenua that relate to the area and its history and cultural monitoring during the early phases of earth works.
Construction stages
As some of the construction site is on farmland, which was part of the Kaituna wetlands, we need to allow nine moths for earthworks settlement. This work started in July 2022. Construction of the interchange itself is likely to commence in mid-2023 and conclude early 2026.
Stage 1
Earth works are in progress and expected to take to July 2023. This includes:
- A nine metre high embankment – forming the westbound (Tauranga) exit and entry ramps of the interchange
- Installing three culverts, including one under the Tauranga Eastern Link, and culvert extensions
- Installing flexible safety barriers and widening the southern side of Tauranga Eastern Link
- Earthworks to build a stormwater retention pond, swales and connecting drains
Stage 2
Te Okuroa Drive extension – started in June 2023.
This phase of the project includes construction of the extension of Te Okuroa Drive and the intersection with future The Sands Avenue. The contract for this phase has been awarded to HEB Construction, who have set up their site office and started work in June 2023. This phase is scheduled to finish at the end of 2023.
This second phase of work includes:
- The Te Okuroa and The Sands Avenue signalized intersection
- Te Okuroa Drive 4 lanes continuation (east) to intersection
- The works includes shared bi-directional cycleway, footpaths, traffic islands/refuges, stormwater, street lighting, traffic signals and utilities.
- Trunk water main to service Wairākei and Te Tumu
- Stormwater reticulation and culverts facilitating improved drainage.
- Wastewater trunk main to service Te Tumu
- CCTV cameras and associated fibre cable/ducting
During this phase of work a section of the cycle track alongside the Tauranga Eastern Link will be diverted via a purpose-built temporary track.
Stage 3
Pāpāmoa East Interchange and The Sands Avenue construction - leading north to the intersection with Te Okuroa Drive. Construction expected to start late 2023 and go through until early 2026.
Location
The intersection will be constructed over the Tauranga Eastern Link Toll Road (SH2), east of Wairākei neighbourhood, linking Te Okuroa Drive and future Sands Avenue.
Traffic impacts on the Tauranga Eastern Link
Preliminary earth works needed for the interchange construction are progressing well and scheduled to be complete in early August 2023. Traffic on the Tauranga Eastern Link Toll Road (TEL TR)/State Highway 2 will continue to be impacted until then. This means one westbound lane of the TEL TR remains closed and speed in that direction is reduced to 70km/hr.
Once earthworks conclude, traffic management can be removed. We are aiming to coordinate this with other works happening on further along the TEL to minimise traffic impacts. Details will be confirmed once plans are confirmed.
Travel time is expected to increase by less than a minute under normal conditions. As this does not materially impact travel time, tolls will continue to apply.
