Takitimu North Link SH29 flyover opens to traffic

The opening of the new SH29/Takitimu Drive Toll Road flyover bridge is an important milestone for the Takitimu North Link Stage 1 Road of National Significance project, Transport Minister Chris Bishop says.

“Takitimu North Link Stage 1 is a significant investment in the western Bay of Plenty. The new 6.8km four-lane expressway will support economic growth and productivity by providing a more reliable, resilient and safer connection for road users and freight operators between Tauranga and Te Puna,” Mr Bishop says.

“The flyover bridge opening to traffic today is part of the major interchange being built at SH29/Takitimu Drive Toll Road, between Tauriko and Tauranga CBD. The 367-metre-long bridge spans a section of the Kōpūrererua Valley Reserve, one of Australasia’s largest urban wetlands.

“This is a complex project being delivered in a sensitive environment. In addition to 400,000m3 of earthworks carried out, the flyover bridge is a made of giant pre-cast concrete beams and supported by 14 piles, the deepest of which is 67 metres.

“People travelling towards Tauranga CBD will now use the new flyover bridge, while a slip lane will support movements towards Tauriko. A new roundabout under construction will provide entry onto Takitimu North Link, and work will continue around these new traffic flows as the wider project progresses.

“Overall construction of the Takitimu North Link Stage 1 project is well advanced. Now in its fifth year, earthworks and the project’s 10 major structures are nearing completion, and the first sections of asphalt have also been applied. This marks an important transition from earthworks and structures to pavements and drainage. 

“The Bay of Plenty is one of New Zealand’s fastest-growing regions, and the state highway network plays a crucial role in moving people and freight to and from Tauranga, Auckland, Hamilton and the Port of Tauranga. 

"The Takitimu North Link Stage 1 Road of National Significance project is about making those journeys more efficient, reliable, and safe. I look forward to further milestones being achieved in coming years in the lead up to completion in 2028.” ...