News & Media Releases

The Sun Shines on Harbour Link

Tauranga Office

August 7, 2008

Following a reprieve from the recent spell of bad weather, the sealing of the new Chapel St westbound on-ramp onto Takitimu Dr for the NZ Transport Agency’s Harbour Link project was finally completed on Wednesday after a three week delay due to the weather.

This coming weekend, traffic heading east and westbound along Takitimu Dr will be reduced to a single lane from Chapel St to Elizabeth St to prepare for moving westbound traffic onto the newly constructed on-ramp.

Once the on-ramp is opened on Monday morning, two straight through lanes heading westbound from the Chapel St / Marsh St intersection will be shortened to about 30 metres before traffic has to merge into one lane. The single lane will continue through to the first footbridge on Takitimu Dr and a 50km/h temporary speed limit will be in place through this area. These traffic shifts will remain in place until July 2009.

On Sunday and Monday nights the two eastbound lanes on Takitimu Dr between Elizabeth St and Chapel St will be closed so that work to complete the Chapel St eastbound off ramp and the approach ramp for the Chapel St viaduct can take place. During these closures, traffic will be diverted along Cameron Rd. The closures are weather dependant, so in the event of bad weather the closure will be moved to the next suitable day.

NZ Transport Agency Harbour Link project manager Kevin Reid said that all upcoming road closures for the project would be notified in advance using road-side information signs.

Cyclists are advised to use Cameron Rd as an alternative to Takitimu Dr between Chapel St and Elizabeth St to avoid having to negotiate narrow shoulders and ‘pinch points’ through the construction zone. Pedestrians will still be able to use the walkway alongside the new westbound on-ramp.

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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