Roundabout set for Te Puna

A two-lane roundabout will be built at the intersection of Te Puna and Minden Road next summer, boosting safety on State Highway 2 north of Tauranga.

The NZ Transport Agency has approved $7million in funding to cover the cost of property purchase and construction of the roundabout.


The SH2 Te Puna/Minden Road intersection. Photo: NZTA.

Subject to approvals and property purchase, the tender process will begin later this year and construction will start this summer (2015/16). The work is estimated to take around six months.

NZTA's Bay of Plenty highways manager Niclas Johansson says the roundabout is a key part of their SH2 Safe System Northern Corridor project, which is focused on exploring ways to improve safety on the highway between Bethlehem and Waihi.

The project aims to reduce the number of head-on and intersection crashes on the stretch of highway by creating a more forgiving road environment.

Niclas says traffic volumes are expected to increase with the predicted residential and commercial growth in the area, and this will lead to more traffic using the SH2 Minden Road/Te Puna Road intersection.

'This new roundabout will improve safety for SH2 motorists and the wider Te Puna community who currently use this intersection,” says Niclas.

Along with the new roundabout, more than $5m worth of safety improvements, including guard rails and wide centre line treatments, are set to be installed along the route over the next two months.

The project will also look at realigning sections of road to improve sight distance, addressing speed limits so they suit the road environment and safety at intersections.

Niclas says NZTA will be working closely with the Western Bay of Plenty District Council, iwi, land owners and other key stakeholders in the coming months as the consenting and designation process for the roundabout gets underway.

Western Bay of Plenty Mayor Ross Paterson says the construction of the roundabout is a significant step forward in improving driver safety at this busy intersection.

'The roundabout will bring benefits to the local Te Puna community by making it easier and safer to navigate the area,” says Ross.

'It will also assist travellers and tourists. With traffic counts building on State Highway 2 from Te Puna to Omokoroa, this improvement is very appropriate and timely.”

Council's infrastructure services group manager Gary Allis says the construction project provides a one-off opportunity to construct a new, purpose-built community hall in Te Puna.

An advisory group has started the planning process for the new hall to be located near the existing structure which is in the path of the new roundabout project.

It is understood a number of sites are being considered.

Council owns the 2000m2 of land on which the hall is currently located and the hall building, at 370m2, is owned by the community.

'The current hall is a much loved and significant community asset that was built by voluntary labour and has stood for nearly 100 years,” explains Gary.

'An advisory group will continue to work with the hall committee and council to ensure that the new building retains its historic roots and serves the growing community well for the next 100 years.”

Gary says one of the main focus areas is to ensure as little disruption as possible from the rebuilding project.


Te Puna Hall. Photo: Bruce Barnard.

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7 comments

Build

Posted on 23-03-2015 12:16 | By Capt_Kaveman

This one properly not like some of the disasters ive seen around the country lately


$7 million dollars?

Posted on 23-03-2015 12:44 | By mlow

I think the taxpayers would like to see a breakdown of THAT cost! Totally outrageous! On a formed road??!!


Swap the Roundabout

Posted on 23-03-2015 13:25 | By Bill Gibson-Patmore

I just had a really good idea! ... Apparently.... We need a new Roundabout at TePuna, and we need a Cross-road at Elizabeth Street (where we already have a Roundabout! How about they get a really big truck and move the Elizabeth Street Roundabout out to TePuna, then bring back the TePuna Cross-road back into town and put Trafific Lights on it! Job's done! . Now.... Before anyone says "that's a silly idea", please remember that we have actually heard sillier ideas from our regional government and Councils. ;). Bill Gibson-Patmore


Do it once, Do it right!

Posted on 23-03-2015 15:41 | By Disappointed

$7 million for a roundabout in Te Puna? For that sort of money WBOP District Council should be demanding traffic lights and half a dozen disabled parking spaces as well. Maybe they could even ask the National MP to throw in a bridge?


Traffic lights

Posted on 23-03-2015 17:38 | By Erik

I think it will be safer if traffic lights were installed and possibly some pedestrian crossings. Traffic lights will be a lot safer!


Why the refusal

Posted on 24-03-2015 10:49 | By What?

to do the same at SH29 / Cambridge Rd intersection at Tauriko??


Why so big?

Posted on 26-03-2015 19:36 | By Vman

A single lane roundabout would work fine. Two lanes that merge 20m after the roundabout (like in Bethlehem) just become passing lanes for people to race past other vehicles and make the intersection unsafe again. As Bill has pointed out they might as well skip this $7m step anyway and just go straight for lights. They're going to absolutely ruin the Elizabeth st intersection when they take that roundabout OUT. Daft thinking again as usual from these planners I reckon.


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