Construction on the Takitimu North Link in Tauranga is progressing with crews breaking through land under the newly-built bridge at Wairoa Road.

The new earthworks is to make way for the new expressway to be built beneath the bridge.

The temporary diversion road, which had been in place while the bridge was built, was removed last week, says a post on the New Zealand Transport Agency Waikato Bay of Plenty Facebook page.

“In coming weeks, the team will begin to haul material under the bridge, alleviating the effect on traffic on Wairoa Road.

“The team has had a great construction season, shifting more than 700,000 cubic metres of earth and making significant progress on this major project.”

The Takitimu North Link is described as one of the Bay of Plenty’s biggest roading projects.

Works on the $655 million project began in 2021.

Once constructed, the link is expected to give people better access to safer and more reliable travel options to provide greater choice in how they move about the Western Bay of Plenty.

Find out more about the project at www.nzta.govt.nz/takitimunorth