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Transit awards Harbour Link Stage 2 construction contract

21 March 2007

Transit New Zealand today announced it was awarding Stage 2 of the SH29 Harbour Link project to The Fletcher Construction Company Ltd for $130.8 million.

Transit regional manager Chris Allen said that the winning tender price was within the funding allocated. Transit was looking forward to working with Fletchers on the detailed design and construction of this project, which is likely to take less than three years to complete.

“The development of this project has been very much a collaborative effort with Tauranga City Council, and we also look forward to working with them and the community to now deliver this very important component of the transport system,” he said.

Once completed, Harbour Link will provide a continuous four-lane state highway linking Tauranga with Hewletts Road and Mount Maunganui. The project route is approximately 4.9km long and includes:

  • Stage 1 - four-laning of Hewlett's Road from Jean Batten Drive to the old toll plaza which is due to be completed in September this year.
  • A four-lane flyover from Takitimu Drive to the existing Harbour Bridge.
  • A duplicate Harbour Bridge constructed alongside the existing bridge.
  • Four-laning of the bridge causeway.

The new bridge - which is designed to look similar to the existing bridge - will provide more efficient four-lane access to the Port of Tauranga and Mt Maunganui. Harbour Link is a critical part of a long-term series of interrelated projects for an efficient transport system for the Bay of Plenty, including linking Tauranga, Mount Maunganui and the Port of Tauranga.

Tauranga Mayor Stuart Crosby said he was delighted the contract had been awarded and looked forward to the completion of the project.

“We need to acknowledge the efforts of Transit in progressing the work needed as rapidly as possible to achieve benefits for the people of Tauranga as soon as possible.

“This is a very large and complex project requiring a lot of collaboration and good will. We are especially grateful to Tauranga road users and directly affected business owners for their continued patience while the construction work takes place,” Mr Crosby said.

Demolition work has already begun for the buildings that need to be removed at the Chapel St end of the project, and the contractor will finish demolition while finalising the designs. Physical construction of the bridge project will begin in August with pile driving.

NEWS MEDIA:

For further information, contact:

Kevin Reid,
Transit’s Harbour Link Project Manager
Ph 07 927 6008 or 021 2856512.

www.smarttransport.org.nz

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