Expressway opens August 3

Robert Brodnax says the Tauranga Eastern Link will open on August 3 and motorists should set up their toll ID. Photo / Andrew Warner

After five years of construction, Tauranga's new expressway will open to traffic on August 3 - five months earlier than originally planned.

An open day "party" will be held on August 1 to celebrate the opening of the $455 million road and to thank the community for its patience during construction, Robert Brodnax, the NZ Transport Agency Bay of Plenty and Waikato acting regional director, said.

The Eastern Link will be opened up to the community for the day so the public has a chance to walk, bike or take a bus tour along the new road before it opens to traffic two days later.

This will be the only opportunity the public has to walk on the new road.

Mr Brodnax said the cycleway along the Kaituna Wetlands will also be open. Food stalls and live music will be set up for the event.

The new road will open to traffic in the early hours of August 3, allowing drivers to start their working week with a quicker trip into the city. It is expected to shave about 12 minutes off travel time between Paengaroa and Te Maunga.

The electronic toll gantry will go live at this point. The new gantry on Route K will start operating at the same time.

"If you're wanting to use either road, get your toll ID set up," Mr Brodnax said.

The road faced a setback with the arson attack that damaged the Domain Rd overpass in November. The expanded polystyrene inside the embankment was set on fire sending flames up through the bridge support.

Mr Brodnax said contractors had worked hard to ensure the fire did not impact on the opening time.

On July 30, Transport Minister Simon Bridges will officially open the new road at an on-site ribbon-cutting ceremony.

Mr Bridges said in an emailed statement to the Bay of Plenty Times Weekend that he was looking forward to opening the new road five months ahead of schedule and delivering such a nationally significant project to Tauranga and the wider Bay.

He said the road had been a "massive undertaking" and was considered one of the most geotechnically challenging major roading projects in New Zealand.

Mr Bridges said the Eastern Link was one of seven of the Government's Roads of National Significance that had been identified as crucial to New Zealand's ongoing economic growth.

"Just as importantly, the TEL will improve safety, significantly reducing death and serious injury crashes."

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