Mount Festival of Multisport - Saturday, 21 January
Record numbers of athletes are expected to take part in the iconic Mount Festival of Multisport next weekend.
To allow for the event to take place, the following closures will be in place:
- The Mall (up to Prince Avenue), Adams Avenue, Marine Parade (up to Oceanbeach Road) and Pilot Bay Boat Ramp: closed Saturday, 21 January, from 4.30am until 5pm
- Oceanbeach Road, Yale Street, Maranui Street, Pāpāmoa Beach Road (up to Parton Road): closed Saturday, 21 January, from 4.30am until 1pm
- Salisbury Avenue (up to Victoria Road), Salisbury Wharf Carpark and The Mall (from Prince Avenue to Salisbury Avenue): closed from Friday, 20 January, 6am until Saturday, 21 January, 9pm
- Tauranga Eastern Link Toll Road (TEL) eastbound lanes between Domain Road and Paengaroa: closed for the cycle leg of the event on Saturday, 21 January, from 5.30am until 1pm. Eastbound traffic will be diverted via Te Puke Highway during this time. Westbound lanes will remain open under usual operation.
We recommend that you plan ahead and use alternative routes where possible. If you need to travel through these areas, please drive carefully and expect delays of up to 30 minutes. Recommended viewing of the event is along Marine Parade and Oceanbeach Road, Mount Maunganui.
Pāpāmoa East Interchange
Construction of a new interchange over the Tauranga Eastern Link (TEL) will see Pāpāmoa East connected to the motorway and enable further development of the area.
Earthworks will continue over the next few months to build the necessary height on the Bell Road side of the Tauranga Eastern Link (TEL), with a two-week break occurring over Christmas from Friday, 23 December 2022 until Monday, 9 January 2023.
Construction will recommence during the week of Monday, 9 January 2023, with traffic management remaining in place until April 2023. Both eastbound lanes are open and one of the westbound lanes remains closed with a speed limit for traffic headed towards Tauranga set to 70km/h. The outer westbound lane will remain closed over the holiday break, due to the time and cost involved in removing the concrete barrier.
Please be aware construction for the Rangiuru Business Park has started just beyond the electronic toll gates heading north. This work is unrelated, but as traffic impacts are planned in the coming months, it provides another reason to take extra care driving through the area.
We appreciate drivers' patience with these works and urge people to keep to the signposted speed limits for everyone’s safety.
There may be minor traffic delays due to these works. As this does not materially impact travel times, tolls will continue to apply.
For more information about the Pāpāmoa East Interchange and construction, visit Pāpāmoa East Interchange.
Car park closures
Dive Crescent car park temporary closure
As part of plans to transform the waterfront in Tauranga’s city centre, the Dive Crescent off-street car park will temporarily close from Sunday, 8 January to Saturday, 1 April 2023, while the upgrade of the parking and amenity in the area takes place.
During this time, the nearby parking on Cliff Road and along The Strand will remain available for use.
Devonport Road off-street car park permanent closure
The Devonport Road off-street car park (accessed from the top/eastern end of Elizabeth Street) is now permanently closed for redevelopment of the site.
The site will ultimately see New Zealand’s largest mass timber office building constructed, and once built, the premises will be home to all of Tauranga City Council’s administration staff.
For a list of other city centre parking options, please visit where to park.
Links Avenue has partially reopened
Just prior to Christmas, Links Avenue partially reopened with an enforceable speed limit of 30km per hour and a time restricted bus lane.
The partial reopening allows access to and from Concord Avenue, seven days a week during all hours except between 7am-10am and 2pm-6pm.
The partial reopening also includes the installation of:
• temporary speed tables until pedestrian crossings can be installed
• new improved signage and road markings.
A period of monitoring and data collection will take place for several months to see how this part of Phase One is tracking. The result of the monitoring will help inform the next phases of the Panel’s proposal, and the Panel and Council will continue to work together on next steps.
We would like to thank the Links Avenue Community Panel for their hard work and for developing a phased approach to getting Links Avenue safely open – not just for cars but also for pedestrians, people on bikes, scooters and in mobility scooters and wheelchairs.
To view the panel’s three-phase proposal: www.ourlinksavenue.co.nz
Cameron Road
Temporary traffic management has been reinstated in all three work zones along Cameron Road. Please take care driving through the construction zones and be kind to the Cameron Road Joint Venture team as they go about their work. If you need help, they are happy to assist you to find your way through the site
The stormwater and footpath upgrade work will resume on the western side of Cameron Road, from Third Avenue to First Avenue, and will extend to Elizabeth Street. The installation of temporary traffic management is underway, which will see a northbound left lane closure in this section.
The wastewater upgrade is now complete between Third Avenue and Sixth Avenue. The wastewater connections upgrade across Cameron Road from Fifth Avenue, Arundel Street and Fourth Avenue will be completed in the coming months as weekend work.
Work on the western side of Cameron Road, from Thirteenth Avenue intersection and towards Tenth Avenue, has resumed. Temporary traffic management will see traffic reduced to one lane as the team completes the stormwater and streetscape upgrade through this section.
The stormwater upgrade across Twelfth Avenue intersection (west) is underway, with temporary traffic management in place. Twelfth Avenue (west) will be closed with no entry or exit to Cameron Road for one week (weather dependent).
The team will be working across the Thirteenth Avenue and Cameron Road intersection from Monday, 16 January, completing the new signal upgrade. This will require a full closure of the eastern side of the Thirteenth Avenue and Cameron Road intersection (Tauranga Boys’ College corner). We expect this closure to be in place for two weeks (weather dependent).
Work to complete the new mid-block signalised crossing outside Tauranga Boys' College (near Fourteenth Avenue intersection) will resume later this week, with right-hand lane closures for both north and southbound as required.
The team has started upgrading the Fifteenth Avenue and Cameron Road intersection. Temporary traffic management will be in place, with the signalised intersection maintained during these works.
Work on the stormwater and streetscape upgrade between Fifteenth Avenue and Sixteenth Avenue, on the eastern side of Cameron Road, will also resume in the coming week, with a southbound left lane closure.
Intersection work:
- Twelfth Avenue intersection (west): will be closed from Wednesday, 11 January 6pm, to complete the stormwater upgrade across Twelfth Avenue west. There will be no entry or exit from Twelfth Avenue (west) to Cameron Road
- Twelfth Avenue: the centre median is permanently closed to through traffic
- Thirteenth Avenue/ Cameron Road (west): from Monday, 16 January, the eastern side of this intersection will be closed for two weeks
- Fifteenth Avenue intersection: temporary traffic management is installed including lane closures and changes to the road layout.
Please note, above works are weather dependent.
Visit our website for more information.
If you’re coming into the city, make sure you check the current road closures on the Tauranga City Council website, so you can navigate easily through the city centre.
Visit Building our future. Cameron Road, Te Papa for more information.
Seismic strengthening at Spring Street parking building
Earthquake strengthening works on the Spring Street parking building resumed this week following the Christmas close.
While works progress, the building will remain operational with a reduced number of parks available. Alternative parking spaces are available at the nearby Elizabeth Street parking building.
Please take care when driving or walking around work sites where loud noises, shaking, dust and minor delays associated with the traffic management in place are expected. We recommend people keep their car windows up when in the parking building.
We apologise for the inconvenience and thank you for your patience.
For more information visit Seismic strengthening at our parking buildings.
Maunganui Road Safety Improvements
Speed on Maunganui Road has been a long-standing concern and includes the safety of cyclists and pedestrians. This safety improvement work is aimed at creating a calmer, more predictable environment, significantly improving safety for everyone who travels through the area.
The new road layout includes measures such as physical separation of lanes and roundabouts - encouraging drivers to lower their speed naturally - as well as improved pedestrian and cycling infrastructure, additional greenery, and upgrades to storm water drainage.
Work planned for 2023
As project delays were encountered last year, some work will continue at a number of locations on Maunganui Road over the next few months.
Golf Road to Tui Street
this work commenced Tuesday, 10 January, to make use of the school holidays. Outstanding work in this section to complete includes:
- Remaining kerbs, cycleways and a small traffic isle on the railway side of the road
- A third median island near the Golf Road roundabout
- Some outstanding details then complete the resurfacing of the road
- Connections between shared paths.
- To allow this work to occur safely, the hard shoulder here will be closed and when necessary, a (short) lane closure may occur
Between Hinau Street to Sutherland Avenue
work scheduled for March/April next year includes:
- A permanent roundabout at the Hinau Street intersection
- Kerbing in the inner ring at Matai Street and Sutherland Avenue roundabouts
- Lighting on the median between Matai and Hinau Streets, and removal of the redundant lights
- Planting of trees and greenery
- Miro Street kerbs and corner
- Adding concrete to sections of the shared path where a temporary fill was used
Tui Street to Hull Road
- the team are currently drafting plans for this section of Maunganui Road. Business owners and the local community will be contacted for feedback in the new year, as the draft plans are developed.
For more information visit www.tauranga.govt.nz/maunganui or email any questions you may have to MRsafetyimprovements@tauranga.govt.nz.
Totara Street Safety Upgrade
We’re working on a safer option for people who travel along Totara Street.
Minor works along Totara Street and Rata Street have recommenced this week
Signalised crossings
As part of these works to improve safety along Totara Street, signalised crossings have been installed at the slip lane intersection of State Highway 2/Hewletts Road and Totara Street, as well as at Waimarie Street, Triton Avenue, Hull Road, and Kawaka Street.
The signalised crossing lights at State Highway 2/Hewletts Road and Totara Street are now operational and people driving are urged to take a bit of extra care when travelling through the intersection. Due to the busy nature of this site, there may be some initial delays as people get used to the new light signals.
The remaining signalised crossings will become operational in the new year. Article information.
For more information visit Totara Street safety upgrade.
Traffic report
City centre
- Fifteenth Avenue and Turret Road from Burrows Street: resurfacing works, to and including Turret Road Bridge, are now complete. The completion of minor remedial works has been delayed due to the weather.
Beyond the city centre
Windsor Road/ Princess Road pedestrian crossing upgrade:
Construction of a new raised crossing between Bellevue Superette and Ōtūmoetai College at Windsor Road/Princess Road, will started on Monday, 9 January 2023. These works are expected to be completed in early February.
During this time, a single lane closure will be required with stop/go signage in place. Temporary loss of carpark space outside businesses and some noise due to the use of heavy machinery will be expected.
Several other improvements will be made around this intersection:
- Traffic calming measures with a 25km/h speed on both sides of the raised crossing
- New bike racks near the shops
- Repositioning of existing seating near the shops
- Additional road safety markings
- Removal of metal barriers from the footpath that currently hinder mobility access.
- One existing carpark will be removed to build the raised crossing and a motorcycle carpark.
Windermere Drive Reconstruction:
Roundabout and pedestrian crossing improvements, pavement reconstruction and resurfacing works on Windermere Drive, between the Toi Ohomai Institute entrance and Lagoon Place roundabouts, have now wrapped up for the year. Programmed completion is expected in early February, weather permitting.
Castlewold Drive Wastewater Renewal:
The walking track from Saint Andrews Drive playground to Belvedere Reserve remains closed while work to replace the wastewater pipe continues. Hours of work are Monday to Friday, between 7:30am and 4:30pm. Traffic management is in place to divert pedestrians to the alternative walking access and to indicate the construction site access. Works are expected to be completed by the end of January
Kaitemako Road:
Preseal repair works from Ashton Way to just beyond Shady Lane will recommence in late January.
Mount Maunganui
- Marine Parade:
Works are scheduled to recommence on Monday, 23 January, and are expected to be completed early February (weather dependent). Street light upgrades and installation are programmed for completion mid-April.
Traffic flows on Marine Parade are not expected to be significantly affected during these works. Traffic management in place, which will safely guide pedestrians and road users through the site, include reduced speeds and lane reductions. Varying levels of construction noise are expected during these works.
Pāpāmoa
- Opal Drive to Beachwater Drive: construction of a wastewater pipeline continues in the Wairākei Reserve. The walkway behind Fashion Island remains closed. The track closure between Domain Road and Opal Drive has an alternative route available on the other side of the stream until works are completed. Access from Opal Drive to Te Akau Ki school will remain open for the duration of the works. Traffic management remains in place. The Domain Road to Opal Drive section has reopened, with the remainder now having a revised completion date of April 2023.
Watermain Upgrade
Watermain upgrades are taking place in the following areas.
City Centre
- Dive Crescent: site temporarily reinstated and available for use. Works are yet to resume.
Gate Pa
- Bongard Street, Wylie Street, Bush Street, Jones Street, Scott Street: works expected to be completed in February.
For more information check out our Weekly bulletin newsletter.