Tauranga Eastern Link
| |
|---|---|
| State Highway 2 | |
| Route information | |
| Maintained by New Zealand Transport Agency | |
| Length: | 23 km (14 mi) |
| Major junctions | |
| From: | Te Maunga |
| To: | Paengaroa |
| Location | |
| Major cities: | Tauranga, Mount Maunganui, Papamoa |
| Highway system | |
The Tauranga Eastern Link (TEL) is a four lane motorway being constructed in the Bay of Plenty region in New Zealand that will replace a section of State Highway 2. It will cover 23 km from Te Maunga junction to Paengaroa, and will improve access from the east (Te Puke, Whakatane, Opotiki, Gisborne) and south from Rotorua and Taupo. It will become the main route for trucks heading to the Port of Tauranga from Rotorua and the eastern Bay of Plenty, and connect the central plateau forestry industry with the port to facilitate lumber export.
Design
The Tauranga Eastern Link will consist of a four lane, dual carriageway, providing a safer and more direct route between Tauranga to Paengaroa.
- Central median barrier.
- New intersections for Sandhurst Drive, Domain Road and Paengaroa junction (SH2/33).
- New overbridge for Parton and underpass for Maketu Roads.
- Urban design incorporating extensive landscaping.
- Electronic free-flow tolling system.
Objectives
- Support the managed growth for the area;
- Improve efficiency and contribute to economic development through improved travel time;
- Provide a more direct route to the Port of Tauranga;
- Provide a safer route between Tauranga and Paengaroa.
Construction of the Tauranga Eastern Link officially started on 19 November 2010[1] and was due for completion in 2016, however construction is currently running six months ahead of schedule and the project is currently due for completion in late 2015.[2]
Tolling received significant community support (92% both conditional and unconditional) and as a result the NZTA submitted a tolling proposal to the Cabinet who approved it.
Route
The Tauranga Eastern Link begins at the Te Maunga Roundabout in Tauranga and follows the route of the existing SH2 to Domain Road, with junctions at Sandhurst Road /Mangatawa Road and Domain Road/Tara Road. The route then runs across rural land, parallel to Tara Road, before crossing Parton Road and running along the sandhills to the Kaituna River. At this point the highway crosses the river on a 150m long bridge and runs past the Kaituna Wildlife Management Reserve. It then heads south east across dairy farms and orchards before crossing the railway line and terminating at a roundabout north of Paengaroa.
Exit list
| Territorial authority | Location | Exit | Destination | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tauranga | Te Maunga |  SH 2 /  SH 29 Tauranga, Mount Maunganui |
Under Construction | |
| Tauranga | Mangatawa | Sandhurst Drive / Mangatawa Lane Arataki, Papamoa |
Under Construction | |
| Tauranga | Papamoa | Domain Road / Tara Road Papamoa, Papamoa East |
Under Construction | |
| Western Bay of Plenty | Rangiuru | Automated toll point | ||
| Western Bay of Plenty | Paengaroa | SH 2 /  SH 33 Te Puke, Whakatane, Rotorua |
Under Construction | |
See also
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Source
- ↑ New Zealand Transport Authority - Construction begins on Tauranga Eastern Link
- ↑ http://www.nzta.govt.nz/about/media/releases/2844/news.html New Zealand Transport Agency - What's left to do?