Traffic flows across the $240 million Harbour Link expressway will be stopped by traffic lights serving Tauranga Bridge Marina. Access in all directions has been guaranteed into and out of the marina once the four-lane road opens in about four years. Agreement on the installation of traffic signals to allow turns againstthe flow of traffic was reached between Tauranga Bridge Marina Ltd and Harbour Link's project partners, Transit New Zealand and Tauranga City Council. However, the agreement has a sunset clause so that when traffic volumes reached the point where signals were "no longer appropriate", the marina would have to satisfy itself with left turns in and out. Transit chief executive Rick van Barneveld said the signals would maintain access for as long as possible. The agreement is a partial victory for the marina which looked like it would be forced to accept left turns only because of the median barrier planned along the length of Harbour Link. Marina chairman John Burn said the signals would maintain access to the marina and make turning safer for all road users. Mr van Barneveld said the agreement allowed Transit to review the signals if there were concerns about safety, traffic delays or other adverse effects on the network. Traffic volumes would inevitably increase because Harbour Link increased the capacity of the route by two lanes, he said. "There may come a time when traffic signals are no longer appropriate and we need to consider restrictions on turning movements," Mr van Barneveld said. Council chief executive Stephen Town said he was delighted to have reached an agreement which met the needs of marina users and provided realistic options as the city grew. Harbour Link project manager John Hannah said the traffic signals at the marina would be co-ordinated with the signals controlling the intersections along Hewletts Rd. He did not think that installing another set of signals would make things much worse. It seemed unreasonable, given the capacity of Harbour Link in the early stages after it opened, to restrict the marina to left turns in and out, Mr Hannah said.
