Welcome Bay Roundabout. Maunagatapu roundabout. Photo/file
Welcome Bay Roundabout. Maunagatapu roundabout. Photo/file
It has been years in the making, but works to create Hairini underpass are expected to begin this month.
The underpass is set to be built in Maungatapu along State Highway 29. Preliminary work is set to start this month ahead of construction in September, said a release from theNew Zealand Transport Agency.
Plans for the underpass have been floating around for years, with Welcome Bay councillor Bill Grainger getting into a heated war or words with Mayor Stuart Crosby six years ago at the suggestion money earmarked for the project would be siphoned off to fund the Tauranga Eastern Link instead.
The Transport Agency's Bay of Plenty highways manager, Niclas Johansson said in the release that people will notice some activity around the site from this month as contractor Fulton Hogan begins preliminary works.
"Fulton Hogan Ltd was awarded the contract to design and build the Maungatapu underpass late last year. They have carried out detailed geotechnical work on the site over the past month and will now begin preliminary works to prepare the site for construction to begin." said Mr Johansson.
"The preliminary work includes clearing vegetation, installing drains to help keep the site dry when work starts, and removing eight houses from Hammond Street."
The underpass is part of the Transport Agency's Hairini Link project, which is focused on reducing congestion and boosting safety as traffic volumes in the area increase.
Once finished, the underpass will deliver a two lane road underneath the Maungatapu roundabout which will connect directly to Welcome Bay Road.
In addition to reducing traffic congestion at peak times, it will make travel safer and easier for pedestrians and cyclists.
A number of environmental control systems, such as silt screens to prevent run off into waterways, will also be put in place over the next few weeks and a temporary road to give residents and contractors access to Hammond Street will be built.
Mr Johansson said a public open day will be held in late July to give people the opportunity to find out more about the project and how it will improve safety and congestion in Tauranga.
Construction is set to start in September 2015 and the project is expected to take three years to complete.
