Tara Road Reconstruction, Tauranga Eastern Link

Beach Road Foreshore Repairs

The foreshore along Beach Road is eroding. This is threatening the road in the vicinity of Acacia Place and repair work is now necessary. In addition, a midden (shell deposit) has been uncovered along the beach front which is of interest to Tangata Whenua and the Historic Places Trust.

Council is doing the following things to ensure the road is protected and to prevent further damage from erosion:

1. Request that the Historic Places Trust does an investigation of the historical significance of the midden. This will be done with the assistance of Tangata Whenua and is necessary before any protection work can be done to ensure that historical and archaeological features are recorded. It will also help provide guidance on what protective measures may be required.
2. A temporary rock bund has been installed directly onto the seabed adjacent the worst areas of erosion. This will limit further erosion until the midden investigation is carried out.
3. Council will complete design and costing options for permanent erosion protection. The best option will probably be a rock revetment similar to the one on Harbour Drive and may include a combined cycleway/footpath at the face of the revetment.
4. Council will then carry out a consenting and consultation phase. This involves applying to the Bay of Plenty Regional Council for Resource Consent and talking to affected parties including local residents, Tangata Whenua and Department of Conservation.
5. Funds for a permanent solution have been allocated in next year's budget and work is programmed to start in the summer of 2012/13.

When complete, the rock revetment will protect Beach Road from any further erosion. It will also serve to protect the pohutukawa trees which are in danger of being undermined and allow another portion of Council’s strategic cycling network to be constructed.

 
An artist's impression of the possible permanent erosion repair along the Beach Road foreshore.

 Tara Road Reconstruction

The existing road has reached the end of its life and needs to be rebuilt. This is the second stage of a project which will eventually see the whole length of Tara Road rebuilt over the next three years. This work is being done in conjunction with the Tauranga Eastern Link and Domain Road Intersection Upgrade. In 2012/13 financial year, pre-loading of the ground will commence between Doncaster Drive and Domain Road. Once the underlying peat ground conditions have settled, construction of the road will commence; this is likely to be in November 2013.

Tauranga Eastern Link

The Tauranga Eastern Link (TEL) is an NZ Transport Agency project. Once finished, the TEL will be a 23km four lane highway, starting at Te Maunga in Tauranga, and finishing at the existing junction of SH2 and SH33, near Paengaroa.
Construction began late 2010, and the new road is expected to open to traffic 2016.

The estimated total cost is $455 million (in 2010 dollars).
For more information on construction please visit the Tauranga Eastern Link website.