About this Project

Tauranga’s existing harbour bridge was opened in March 1988 after two years’ of construction. It was a joint Bay of Plenty Harbour Board, Tauranga District Council and Mount Borough Council project which provided a direct, tolled link between Tauranga and Mount Maunganui and better links to the Port on the Mount Maunganui side of the harbour. Tolling was maintained until 2001. Since tolls were removed, the number of vehicles using the bridge has increased dramatically.

Improving access between Tauranga and Mount Maunganui has been under discussion for several years. The existing causeway design on the Mount side took into account the need for the future four laning of the link in the transport network. Tauranga City Council investigated a variety of proposals and options for four lane access between Tauranga and Mount Maunganui.

The project is not just about providing an additional bridge. The roads either side of the existing bridge and the intersections at Totara St and Marsh St / Dive Cr are significantly congested at peak times and the project is as much aimed at reducing congestion at these intersections as about increasing the capacity of the harbour bridge.

The Western Bay of Plenty region is one of New Zealand’s fastest growing areas, and Tauranga city is now the country’s sixth largest population centre. Traffic flows in the area are currently about 24,000 vehicles a day at Marsh St and 36,000 vehicles a day cross the bridge. This is likely to grow to about 45,000 vehicles in the Marsh St area and 59,000 vehicles on the existing bridge. The existing bridge has an ideal capacity of about 29,000 vehicles per day – and that capacity is exceeded for long periods every day.

This leads to queues of traffic along Takitimu Drive and Chapel St, with traffic moving very slowly along Marsh St, across the bridge and down Hewletts Rd.

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Options

A number of options have been examined, mainly involving a duplicate bridge, although initial options also included a tunnel or a viaduct crossing next to the railway bridge. Options using Marsh Street and removing the need for the ‘Flyover’ across Chapel and Mirrielees Rd were also considered. These were discounted at an early stage as being too costly and because they did not provide adequate capacity for growth and they had greater adverse effects on the surrounding environment. The current proposal will provide better traffic capacity, at less cost and with fewer effects on the environment.

The Harbour Link project has had strong public backing. Considerable consultation was undertaken, both on the approvals under the Resource Management Act and the issue of tolling. A Key Stakeholders Group was established to enable information to be provided and responses gained from the key interested parties as well as the public consultation programme that featured communications with affected landowners . In addition a Community Liaison Group was set up by Tauranga City Council to allow  interested parties to respond on the urban design aspects of the project. Tangata whenua were consulted through out the approvals programme.

The community received newsletters, attended open days and cottage meetings and responded to surveys.

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Funding and Tolling

The project progressed to designation and design on the basis that it would be part-funded through tolling. An Order in Council was granted for the project to be tolled, however at the last General Election an agreement was reached between the Labour Party and New Zealand First that the project would be fully funded by the Crown without the need for tolls. Funding for the project has been split - half from the Crown grant and the other half through the National Land Transport Fund administered by Land Transport New Zealand.

On commencement, the whole central corridor, stretching from Takitimu Drive to Maunganui Road, became state highway, with Transit taking responsibility for its development and maintenance. With the increased state highway capacity through the central corridor once the new Harbour Link Project is opened to traffic, Fifteenth Ave/Turret Road will become a local road managed by Tauranga City council.

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What This Project Includes

Harbour Link is not just about motorists. Pedestrians and cyclists will also enjoy improved and safer facilities.

Stage 1

  • Hewletts Rd capacity has been improved, with continuous four laning from Jean Batten Dr near Hewletts Flyover to the old toll plaza on the existing bridge.
  • Traffic signals have been installed at intersections at Waimarie St, Totara St and Tasman Quay.
  • These signal-controlled intersections allow Transit to manage traffic flows in this area more efficiently. The changes should greatly reduce congestion at this intersection, which causes Hewletts Rd to back up at peak times.
  • A median barrier and islands have been installed along Hewletts Rd to prevent right turns, but motorists can still make u-turns at intersections with traffic signals.
  • Facilities for pedestrians and cyclists have been improved.
  • Bus lanes are now added between Aerodrome Rd and Totara Street.
  • Some land has been reclaimed at Butters Landing (near the old Toll Plaza) to enable the four lanes to be constructed.

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Stage 2

To the west of the planned duplicate Harbour Bridge the expressway will become a flyover over the Dive Crescent roundabout, the railway sidings and Chapel Street and back to ground level on Takitimu Drive. This will ensure that these junctions are all separated, so that through traffic is not affected by local road users. This will improve travel times for State highway road users and also relieve congestion on local roads in the area.

  • Four laning will be completed from the old toll plaza to Takitimu Drive.
  • A duplicate Aerodrome Bridge and Harbour Bridge will be constructed.
  • A signalled intersection will be constructed at the Harbour Bridge marina entrance.
  • A viaduct or flyover will be constructed from the Harbour Bridge to Takitimu Dr.
  • On/off ramps will be constructed from the viaduct to Dive Cr and Chapel St intersections.
  • New intersection layouts will be developed at Dive Cr and Mirrielees Rd, with a new signalled intersection at Chapel St.
  • Improved pedestrian and cycle facilities will be developed, including a designated pedestrian/cycle route protected by a barrier from traffic.
  • A new reserve will be created including landscaping at the existing Sea Scout site and extensive landscaping in Dive Cr.
  • Extensive landscaping along the causeway, about the bridge western abutment and Dive Cr intersection as well as at the Chapel intersection and the merging with the Takitimu Dr and associated walkways.