Harbour Link - Tauranga Central Corridor

Tauranga’s Harbour Link project is the last remaining section of the Central Corridor of the SmartTransport network to be built. It will provide a continuous four lane expressway from Takitimu Drive through to Mount Maunganui.

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This project will provide more efficient and quicker access between Tauranga and Mount Maunganui, reduce congestion on the existing harbour bridge and Hewletts Rd and the traffic bottleneck at Chapel Street/Marsh St for through traffic.

Harbour Link is being constructed in two stages. Stage 1, the four-laning of Hewletts Rd on the Mount Maunganui side of the harbour from Jean Batten Dr to the old toll plaza. Stage 1 was completed in September 2007. Stage 2 site preparation began in February 2007 and involves four laning of the bridge causeway, the construction of a duplicate harbour bridge and a four lane flyover from Takitimu Drive to the existing Harbour Bridge. As part of this project Transit is gazetting the road between Mirrielees Rd and Tasman Quay as State Highway.

The full costs of the project are being met from the National Land Transport account and a special Crown grant.

Timing

Stage 1

  • Completed September 2007

Stage 2

  • Construction began July 2007
  • Completion 2010
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Latest News

Major Traffic Shifts along Takitimu DriveOver the next few weeks, major traffic shifts will be made along Takitimu Dr as work progresses on Transit New Zealand’s Harbour Link Project.More

Take Care Around Road Works Motorists are being asked to take special care while driving through the many road works sites around Tauranga - even out of working hours. More

Piling in Harbour Recommences for Harbour Link Twenty years after the first Harbour Bridge was opened, piling is again underway in Tauranga Harbour to construct a second bridge for Transit New Zealand's Harbour Link Project. More

FAQs

What is the Harbour Link Project? Harbour Link will provide continuous four laning from Takitimu Dr through to Mount Maunganui, including a duplicate harbour bridge.

When did construction start? Construction of Stage 1 – four laning of Hewletts Rd from Jean Batten Dr to the old toll plaza – began in September 2006 and is now complete. Construction of Stage 2 – the duplicate bridge and viaducts connecting to Takitimu Dr began in July 2007 and is predicted to be completed by autumn 2010.

How much will this project cost? The estimated cost is about $255 million. This is one of the largest transport projects ever constructed in New Zealand, and the largest in the Bay of Plenty.