Highway boost for Rotorua (+ video)

The Tauranga Eastern Arterial was opened yesteday. PHOTO/ NZTA

The country's newest stretch of state highway - the Tauranga Eastern Link, will be a boost for Rotorua's competitiveness, local MP Todd McClay says.

The highway was officially opened by Prime Minister John Key and Transport Minister Simon Bridges yesterday and is said to reduce return journey times between Rotorua and the Port of Tauranga by up to 25 minutes.

After four and a half years of construction the road is expected to be open to traffic on Monday.

"This important infrastructure development brings Rotorua closer to New Zealand's busiest port. It means businesses that want good access to export markets can now consider Rotorua as their home," Mr McClay said.

"We have recently seen announcements around significant investment in wood processing in Rotorua. Many of these value-added products will be attractive to export markets. The completion of the Tauranga Eastern Link means that these companies can get their goods to market faster, which means they will be more productive and more competitive."

Mr McClay said any company looking to invest in the exports sector should consider Rotorua.

"We have land available, a skilled and willing workforce, good infrastructure and offer extremely good quality of life for prospective investors."

The $455 million NZ Transport Agency (NZTA) project delivers 21km of four-lane, median divided highway between Tauranga and Paengaroa and will provide more predictable travel times.

Harry Wilson, NZTA's Waikato/Bay of Plenty regional director, said the new road would leave a lasting impression on the Bay of Plenty region, bringing many social benefits and opening up further economic opportunities in the Eastern Bay of Plenty.

"It will be a strong anchor to support managed land use in a planned and sensible progression in this region."

The highway goes from Te Maunga in Tauranga through to the new Paengaroa roundabout, which replaces the former junction of State Highways 2 and 33 (the Rotorua and Whakatane highways).

The project involved 550,000 sq m of new road, more than three million cubic metres of earthworks and saw seven new bridges built.

Tauranga Eastern Link
• 21km of four lane median-divided highway
• $455 million cost
•220,000m2 of new road
• 300,000 new native plants
• 3,000,000m3 of earthworks moved
• Six different iwi represented within the project
• 150 farmers consulted for land access
• 92 per cent of the public voted yes to having the road tolled, knowing it would bring construction forward by 10 years.
• Third time lucky - the TEL underwent three name changes: the Te Puke Bypass, the Tauranga Eastern Arterial and finally the Tauranga Eastern Link.