$87m road improvement plan approved for SH2

State Highway 2 between Waihi and Tauranga, is getting a much needed upgrade.

Safety improvements have been, and will continue to be, made to State Highway 2 between Waihi and Tauranga, said New Zealand Transport Agency Central North Island Director Regional Relationships, Parekawhia McLean.

The Transport Agency Board has approved $87.1 million for construction for safety improvements to be rolled out from Waihi to Omokoroa over the next five years as part of a $101 million safety improvement programme.

The 42-kilometre section of road will be split into 10 sections, to help reduce delays to people's journeys due to construction.

The first section, Waihi to Trig Road, is expected to begin construction in late 2018. This includes upgrading five intersections with SH2 — Heath, Crean, Baxter, Ford and Trig roads; road and shoulder widening, wide centreline, and installing roadside safety barriers and a right turn bay for Waimata School.

The remaining nine sections include Trig Road to Mathers Road, Mathers Road to Athenree Gorge, Athenree Road to Tanners Point Road, Tanners Point Road to Kauri Point Road, Kauri Point Road to Lindemann Road, Wharawhara Road to Sharp Road, Sharp Road to Sargent Drive, Wainui South Road to Esdaile Road and Esdaile Road to Omokoroa Road. This does not include upgrading the Omokoroa intersection with SH2.

The draft Transport Agency Investment Proposal (TAIP) sets out the investment approach and proposed programme of activities across all modes of transport for the next 10 years. Ms McLean said the draft TAIP for the State Highway 2 Waihi to Tauranga programme has been identified by the Transport Agency as requiring re-evaluation to better align with the Government Policy Statement on Land Transport (GPS). She said, "once it has been re-evaluated it will be reconsidered".

The SH2 Waihi to Tauranga programme considers improvements to the urban area in Katikati, Omokoroa to Te Puna and the Tauranga Northern Link.

Ms McLean said "we acknowledge the frustration this may result in for communities and people affected by this project."

MP for Coromandel Scott Simpson who along with colleagues Simon Bridges and Todd Muller petitioned the Government asking to improve roads linking Tauranga to Katikati and Hamilton, said, "people are angry and have a right to feel let down".

"Construction of a four-lane new highway between Katikati and Tauranga would have already been under way had national been re-elected. Instead all we've been promised are a few sticking plaster improvements to a few of the very worst intersections."

He said they will continue to fight hard for a four-lane highway and also on meeting their promise of a bypass for Katikati.

"We're not about to give up."

The Bay of Plenty Regional Land Transport Plan 2018 has been approved and submitted to the Transport Agency, as input into developing the National Land Transport Programme (NLTP) 2018-21, which will be released on August 31.

The government was expected to adopt the new Government Policy Statement on Land Transport by July 1.

Further information on the draft TAIP is available at: www.nzta.govt.nz/planning-and-investment/national-land-transport-programme/draft-transport-agency-investment-proposal-2018-27/