Commissioner Greg Hill has made his decision on the Welcome Bay underpass, but it may be another month before it is released.

The NZ Transport Agency is seeking a Notice of Requirement so it can move onto the next detailed design stage of the process to acquire the property for the Hairini underpass.

A plan of the proposed underpass.

'We are currently reviewing the report and comments made by the commissioner before deciding if we will formally respond,” says NZTA's Bay of Plenty state highways manager, Brett Gliddon.

'In the meantime, we will await the outcome of any appeals before we publically discuss the next steps for the project.”

The $52million Hairini Underpass is intended to move Welcome Bay traffic off the strategically important State Highway 29. It was originally proposed as part of a project that also involves duplicating the Hairini Bridge and four-laning Turret Road.

The original plan was to complete the Turret Road end, but the strategic priority of SH29 and growing congestion on the roundabouts, saw a shift in priorities.

The commissioner's report outlines the recommendations to the submissions received regarding NZTA's intention to designate land for the new underpass, says Brett.

The Notice of Requirement follows a different path to normal hearings. Instead of it being made public after the decision has been made to affected parties, the NZTA is informed and has 30 days in which to respond to the commissioner's recommendations.