School Resources

The Harbour Link project team is frequently asked by Year 13 students for detailed information on decision-making processes followed in the Harbour Link project as part of their studies. This information can now be sourced from the links below.

Please read the Harbour Link project introduction below before opening the links to the process documents (provided in PDF format).

Other students requiring information on SmartTransport projects should find everything they need on the project and general pages within this site.

NOTE: The documents provided on this page are designed to provide information for specific school assignments, and should not be read as a complete summary of all approval processes undertaken for this project.

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Introduction to the Harbour Link Project

Purpose

To improve the Strategic Roading Network (SRN) link between Takitimu Drive and the Tauranga Harbour Bridge.

The Tauranga Harbour Bridge to Tasman Quay also requires duplication to accommodate future traffic demands.

Background

Takitimu Drive (Route P) and the Harbour Bridge provide:

Important links between State Highways 2 and 29.
Access between Tauranga and Mount Maunganui.
Access to and from the Port of Tauranga.

Takitimu Drive is a good example of an 80 km/h, urban expressway. The construction of Route J and Route K will extend the high standard links to SH2 in the north and SH29 in the west. Transit NZ is considering improvements to Hewletts Road (four-laning) and Maunganui Road (intersection improvements).

Between Takitimu Drive and the Harbour Bridge, traffic is required to negotiate Marsh Street, a 50 km/h urban street with property accesses, a signalled intersection and roundabout. This link presently causes delays during peak traffic periods, and the “level of service” will continue to deteriorate as traffic volumes grow. With improvements to Hewletts Road, it will become the bottleneck.

The Harbour Bridge was constructed in 1988 allowing for future duplication on the northern side. Options for an improved link between the bridge and Takitimu Drive have also been “on the drawing board” since the mid 1980s.

Consents Required under Resource Management Act (RMA)

Designation of the Route.
Resource Consents for Designation.