Lets Talk Transportation, Roading and Congestion.
As residents of the Tauriko ward you and I know we are spending too much wasted time in congestion as we travel in and out of our residential area. How did this happen?
Almost 20 yrs ago Tauranga City Council had a comprehensive plan for our roading network that was agreed to by BOP Regional Council, WBOP Council and Transit NZ (now Waka Kotahi). The Minster of Transport came to our City with a check for $150 million to match TCC’s contribution to cover the construction of the TEL, TNL Harbour Link crossing and the 4 laning of SH29 Ring road from Barkes Corner to Bay Park. All projects were funded and due to be completed within 10 yrs at a cost of $750 mil.
The tolling of the new Harbour bridge crossing was crucial to the total funding package and when that was removed by Winston Peters in his agreement with Helen Clark to form a Govt in 2005 the wheels began to fall off the projects.
The ring road which was so vital to the overall plan to minimize congestion around the city was shelved.
The TEL has improved travel times to the east and reduced congestion for Te Puke. The TNL now under construction will improve travel to Omokoroa and reduce congestion around Bethlehem when it is completed in 2027. In the meantime, here in the south of the city, we are experiencing greater congestion between the roundabouts at Takitimu Dr, Barkes Cnr, Oropi Rd, and Poeke Rd along what is now called SH29A.
Over the next 10-15 yrs we will see the long awaited upgrades to SH29 at Tauriko and Cambridge Rd through to Barkes Corner but during that long construction period we will see congestion get worse in the roundabouts I have mentioned and along Cameron Rd, Fraser St and Oropi Rd.
I remain focused on seeing these upgrades finally completed along with new TCC roads to enable connections from SH36 at the Pyes Pa roundabout through to Oropi Rd across Joyce Rd in the area of Woods Rd. I do not believe it is sensible to allow further residential growth further south in Pyes Pa as is currently underway if we do not provide this essential alternative exit to the east.