BoP’s biggest roading
Improving safety is at the heart of the Tākitimu North Link project, which announced the award of the construction contract to Fulton Hogan and HEB Joint Venture.
Waka Kotahi NZ Transport Agency Director Regional Relationships, David Speirs, welcomes the project moving ever closer to reality for Western Bay of Plenty communities living alongside the busy State Highway 2.
“This is a beautiful part of Aotearoa that has seen rapid growth. Tākitimu North Link will provide an alternative route, improving safety and accessibility, and providing more transport choice for communities on this important corridor.”
“This is a huge investment into the Bay of Plenty, and one of the largest projects within the New Zealand Upgrade Programme.
“We are now into the construction phase of the project, with enabling works underway, essential ecological and environmental investigations continuing, and main construction beginning this summer.”
Mr Speirs says people can also look forward to more options on how they travel, helping them get where they’re going safely.
“Providing options on how people want to travel will be significant for the area. The continuous and separate shared path gives people the ability to cycle, ride e-bikes, electric scooters, electric skateboards and walk. There will be regular access points from local roads to connect communities.”
Since the design portion of the contract was awarded in May 2021 contractors FH/HEB JV have progressed site investigations, technical assessments, and detailed design.
“The contract was split into two parts, design and construct, allowing the design to continue while property negotiations were completed. The progress with land acquisition over the past 18 months has brought us to the construction phase,” Mr Speirs says.
“Fulton Hogan and HEB Joint Venture brings significant experience to the project, having previously built the Tauranga Eastern Link. They are ready to hit the ground running this summer and enabling works are already underway.”
“The five-year project includes three million cubic metres of earthworks as well as the construction of eight bridges, 29 culverts, eight stream diversions and seven wetlands.”
The contract is an important milestone for the New Zealand Upgrade Programme, which will provide better travel choices that help people in growing communities get where they’re going safely. Waka Kotahi and KiwiRail are delivering the Government’s $8.7 billion investment in road, rail, public transport and walking and cycling infrastructure.
The New Zealand Upgrade Programme provides the fully-funded pipeline of
work that the industry has been calling