Construction is ramping up on the SH29 Tauriko Enabling Works, with sheet piling underway to prepare for a safer, signalised intersection at Cambridge Road.

The project, led by NZ Transport Agency Waka Kotahi in partnership with Tauranga City Council, includes upgrading the SH29/Cambridge Road intersection with traffic lights, a retaining wall, and a new connection to Whiore Avenue.

This upgrade aims to improve safety and efficiency for all road users, including buses, cyclists, and pedestrians accessing Tauriko Business Estate.

Bruce Waugh, Acting Regional Manager for NZTA Waikato/Bay of Plenty, explained the retaining wall's importance.

“To upgrade the intersection with traffic lights, we first need to ensure Cambridge Road is wide and safe enough to handle future traffic demand,” he said.

Temporary sheet piling is currently being installed on Cambridge Road to stabilise the area before retaining wall construction begins. From early January to February 2025, a narrow section of Cambridge Road will be closed to facilitate this work.

Traffic management measures include lane shifts, a northbound lane closure, detours, and reduced speed limits.

Bethlehem-bound traffic will be diverted via SH29 Takitimu Drive Toll Road or SH29A and Cameron Road, adding approximately 15 to 22 minutes to travel times. Residents will maintain access via detours. Work will occur Monday to Saturday, 7am to 6pm.

Additionally, stop/go traffic management will be in place tomorrow, December 11, to relocate a power pole between 561 and 587 Cambridge Road.

Temporary speed limits of 30km/h and moderate delays are expected between 9am and 4pm. Power outages are also planned, with affected property owners notified by their providers.

The retaining wall construction, beginning in late January 2025, will be complex due to the steep gully and underground services. The project includes building a 210m-long concrete wall, road widening, and a shared path.

Once completed, the intersection will undergo staged signalisation and drainage works, with temporary road layout changes to manage traffic until the project’s completion in 2027.

NZTA urges road users to drive carefully, allow extra travel time, and follow signage and instructions from road wo