Tākitimu North Link geotech works get underway

Geotechnical assessments for one of the Bay of Plenty’s most significant roading projects got underway at Fifteenth Avenue in Tauranga from Monday 16th November, Waka Kotahi NZ Transport Agency advises.

This work is part of the pre-implementation phase of the project for Stage One of the Tākitimu North Link, the new expressway connecting Tauranga and Te Puna.

The work at Fifteenth Ave involves installing nails in the slope and measuring the force required to pull them out. This will tell us how sensitive the soil is to disturbance and will inform the design of the connection to State Highway 29 Tākitimu Drive Toll Road.

Work will take place between 7am and 6pm and is expected to be completed within three weeks.

While Waka Kotahi does not expect this work to be disruptive, near neighbours and passers-by may notice some activity and noise during this time. The works will be located within the road reserve but outside the traffic lanes, so should not impact on traffic, and are not expected to generate any dust or vibration.

Projects of this scale begin with thorough investigation of the soil conditions using a range of technologies to understand what is beneath the ground’s surface. The assessments look at the ground conditions and consider the natural environment, including being in a coastal environment. The findings help to ensure safe and costeffective projects.

Waka Kotahi thanks road users and local residents for their patience.

The Tākitimu North Link was allocated $933m funding under the New Zealand Upgrade Programme in January 2020. It is a new 14km four-lane expressway connecting Tauranga and Ōmokoroa, with provision for public transport, and a shared path for walking and cycling. It will be constructed in two phases, between Tauranga and Te Puna (stage one), and Te Puna and Ōmokoroa (stage two).