Tauranga City Councillor Bill Grainger is in two minds about the Welcome Bay underpass being announced as the NZ Transport Agency's preferred option for the Hairini/State Highway 29 crossover.
Tauranga City Councillor Bill Grainger.
He's happy that NZTA announced the underpass, which he campaigned for, as the preferred option, but there's a cloud of doubt on his horizon.
At the same workshop meeting, NZTA also announced the underpass is being bumped up the queue because the agency's priority is to keep SH29 clear of commuting cross-traffic.
Bill's new worry is that may mean delays on the other major work – the four-laning of Turret Road and the duplication of the bridge linking the causeway.
NZTA says traffic demands mean they can put off the bridge and Turret Road four-laning for up to five years after the underpass is complete.
'They can now deliver the four-laning a few years later or more; depending on how much finance there is about,” says Bill.
NZTA's admitted priority is looking after SH29 and once that is sorted with the construction of the underpass, he's concerned the other works, which are also part of the National Government's 2008 election promise, may be forgotten.
'They want to look after SH29 that's why they came up with the gyratory – going round the back of Palmers garden centre,” says Bill.
'For me I want to do what I can for the community here – my concern is Turret Road/15th Ave, and I think that is very important to keep the finger on the pulse, keep the pressure on. We know it's election year.”
Bill's had several meetings with the local MPs, Tony Ryall and Simon Bridges, to try and keep them to the word of the 2008 election promise.
National's commitment was to spend $100 million on the total project, which Bill says includes the four-laning, new bridges and the underpass.
'So what I'm trying to say is: I want to see if they can keep to their word,” says Bill.
Communication between NZTA and the city council is poor, says Bill, something that became very clear when concerned Ohauiti residents began contacting their councillors about the gyratory being proposed for Palmers Garden World.
'There has not been any liaison with NZTA in the last year,” says Bill.
The council used to have a subcommittee for the purpose, but it lapsed as a result of staff changes in both organisations.
'NZTA have shown their direction, which is good, don't get me wrong, but it all comes back now to that spend.”
He's also been assured by Mayor Stuart Crosby and the new Tauranga City Council CEO, Ken Paterson, that the Welcome Bay works are not going to be part of a Route K trade.
Bill was referring to persistent rumours a couple of months ago that a deal was being made where NZTA would take over the loss-making Route K toll road in exchange for the Welcome Bay underpass.
12 comments
road to...
Posted on 31-08-2011 13:48 | By The author of this comment has been removed.
Surely the underpass project includes Turret Road and 15th Ave??? Cars need to get from point A to B, not A to partway and then stop, merging across a one lane (each way) bridge. This project has been on the books for years, what happened to forward thinking/planning? Some council/group in the past could see the need - what happened? $
Money
Posted on 31-08-2011 16:49 | By Colleen Spiro
Like everything I expect it has to do with money...They did not want to be seen to break their promise, (As Bill says it is election year) so they said they will do the underpass, but follow with the 4 lane situation in about 5 years. Do I think we will be told what option they will choose in September...No I don't, as it has been nearly a year and not one word has come directly from NZTA to the residents of Hammond Street.
Problem solved: a free bus
Posted on 01-09-2011 06:46 | By IanM
This problem would be solved with a free bus every 10 mins from 0800 to 0900 and 1645 to 1745. That would be 12 free buses, 5 days a week. A safe cycling route and a safe pedestrian/cycle link to Windermere would also help. All of that would cost much less than the interest costs on $100 million, and would allow that money to be sent to Christchurch, where it is really needed. The money doesn't really exist anyway, given that the government is living on borrowing. This tunnel is selfish and self-serving, at a time when we really need to back up and re-assess our priorities.
Being in 2 minds better than no mind
Posted on 01-09-2011 10:17 | By Inconvenient Truth
Seems to have taken quite a while for councillor Grainger to realise that the underpass will just take motorists to the next bottleneck (15th Ave Turret Rd). I think I can remember that being predicted long ago and it wouldn't have taken much of a mind to work that out. If Bill Grainger's wanting to do what he can for the community here I've got a suggestion. Bill, don't do what you you did for the traffic lights because I believe you voted against them. Those lights certainly have helped to make a bad situation more tolerable especially for older drivers for the next few years until the underpass is built. Thanks to the councillors who voted for them. No thanks to those who didn't. Anyway it's confusing to read that Bill now says he's in two minds about the underpass. But on the positive side I suppose being in two minds at least shows he has some sort of mind.
Posted on 01-09-2011 11:21 | By Colleen Spiro
@IanM.....simple Huh....Where do you live?
Action please not talk
Posted on 01-09-2011 17:49 | By KAMIKAZE
Sorry CR. Grainger 2 minds suggests 2 brains and from your comments on this topic do not indicate you have 2 to rub together.Just work on immediately getting the Welcome Bay tunnel or cut through in place and the rest of the jigsaw has no choice but to flow on just like night follows day .The proposal as outlined virtually follows the original 1980s proposal( despite what some tossers say) and the work on this major part can be attended to without affecting existing roads to any great degree.Just get it underway now and bank it otherwise you are likely to lose it and majorly disadvantage the whole Welcome Bay community by your shagging around.
@ IAN M, WAKE UP PILL NEEDED?
Posted on 02-09-2011 16:54 | By CRUMPY
perhaps you need to sit back in your rocking chair a little longer, suck a kumera and such things a little longer, in end result you may percieve the gaps between teh lines with deals being done all ov erthe place e.g. Route K swap around bargining to off load other messes.
ASK A POLITICIAN FOR THE TRUTH?
Posted on 04-09-2011 10:27 | By RASPUTIN
You will be waiting a while on that one, dont hold your breath. In fact the concept is completely opposite to the first principle of being a politician ....
THE REAL DEAL IS ...
Posted on 04-09-2011 11:33 | By PLONKER
Mayor Crosby wants to off load Route K financial mess of $70 million of debt and growing, solution is to bury it in the Welcome bay tunnel and cover it up as quickly as possible. The only option left after that is a fly over becasue the burial chamber (Route K) is huge. The real motivation here though is that Mayor Crosby is a Labour party member and this is an oppurtunity to undermine Simon Bridges MP of National, I reckon there are other motivations here than would initially appear to be the case!
@ PLONKER !
Posted on 08-09-2011 16:30 | By CRUMPY
You forgot to factor in the enormous scale of the burial chamber, it will require engaging trekking/guides to find a new way home to Welcome Bay.
BALDERS, REAL NAME
Posted on 08-09-2011 16:44 | By CRUMPY
Black Adder of course, can not remember, can't put a finger on it, blah blah ... like MAKE A DECISION mate! Stop lingering here ... move on!
SOME ADVICE BILL ON THAT!
Posted on 09-09-2011 12:55 | By PLONKER
Scratch it, you and it will feel better aftr that.
Leave a Comment
You must be logged in to make a comment.