More life in slow lane for Tauranga

By ROSALEEN MACBRAYNE

Tauranga's roading woes are about to get worse, before they get better.

Work will start next week on strengthening State Highway 29 between Te Maunga and Maungatapu and motorists are being asked to avoid using that route at peak times.

Tauranga City Council transportation manager Geoff Morgan says a 30km/h temporary speed restriction will be in force, resulting in "significant queuing" of vehicles at busy times.

He warned that the alternative way into the city, the harbour bridge crossing, was already congested without more people switching to use it.

"Our message is to stick with the route you currently use, travel off-peak if possible and, if you are delayed, be patient and stick to the speed limit."

A median crash barrier is being installed on the Te Maunga to Maungatapu stretch of highway to prevent head-on crashes.

Road widening has already been carried out on the highway fringes to accommodate the barrier and provide safer, wider road shoulders.

Mr Morgan said road strengthening works would begin on a 700m section east of the Maungatapu bridge, which would be sealed by Christmas. After New Year, the contractors would move progressively east.

The work is expected to be finished in May.

After that, Mr Morgan said traffic disruption would shift to the harbour bridge route, with a flyover being built to ease traffic flows at the intersection of Hewletts Rd and Maunganui Rd.