Project purpose
The review will refine options, identify any changes that should be made and confirm the appropriateness of the long-standing designation.
Benefits
Once constructed, the Tauranga Northern Arterial will improve travel time, trip reliability, freight movements and safety, as well as relieve congestion on this major link between the Bay of Plenty, Auckland and the Coromandel Peninsula. It will improve access and support safer public transport, cycling and walking on the current state highway route through Bethlehem and Te Puna.
Features
The proposed route includes 6.8km of new highway from the SH2/ Loop Road intersection (north of Te Puna) to Route K in Tauranga City.
This project (secondary investigation) includes:- geotechnical studies - to determine the strength of rock and soil along the route. This information is required by engineers so they can design the road to suit local conditions
- traffic analysis – traffic modelling which estimates which route drivers will use when TNL is built. This data is an input into other work streams
- refining options – to identify realistic options for consultation and further analysis
- economic analyses – to determine the costs of each option and identify a cost benefit ratio for funding purposes.
Other facts
The plans in the attachments above illustrate the approximate designated route. They show the estimated land required to build the project. NZTA already owns most of the necessary land.
