The Tauranga Eastern Link Toll Road will be closed for four nights this week.

The closures, starting from tomorrow, will allow for the installation of 12 concrete bridge beams, as part of the Pāpāmoa East Interchange project.

Project manager Nic Barnett said it’s an exciting time for construction.

“The beams will form the basis for the bridge deck, so people can really see progress now,” Barnett said in a statement from Tauranga City Council.

“The installation of twelve 70-tonne, 33-metre beams is a significant operation, involving a number of long trucks to bring the beams in and large cranes to lift them into place.

“To keep drivers and crew safe, the road will need to be closed and free of traffic. This work is planned at night to limit traffic impacts as much as possible.”

The Tauranga Eastern Link Toll Road/State Highway 2 will be closed at night from Tuesday August 19 to Friday August 22.

Traffic in both directions will be diverted via Te Puke Highway, between 8pm and 5am each night.

Outside of the night closures, the current traffic management remains in place with traffic down to one lane in each direction and speed reduced to 70km/h through the construction site.

A map showing where the closure will be (in red) and the detour route (in green). Photo / Tauranga City Council

Digital signs at the Tauranga Eastern Link Toll Road will provide drivers a heads up and advise of any changes.

For more information about the Pāpāmoa East Interchange and construction, visit letstalk.tauranga.govt.nz/pei.