Welcome Bay Road will be reduced to one lane on Monday April 29 when work starts on the first section of the Waiari trunkmain pipeline.

In a statement from the Western Bay District Council, it says residents in the Te Puke, Papamoa and Welcome Bay Road areas will receive a letterbox mailout to notify of the pending works for the Waiari Water Supply Scheme.

'From April 29 to June 2020, the flow of traffic on Welcome Bay Road will be reduced to one lane for a 500-meter section.

'Stop/Go traffic signals on Welcome Bay Road will be operational 24 hours, seven days a week and apply to 500m sections that will move along with progress of work.

'Traffic is expected to be slower at peak times and drivers should anticipate delays.

'Traffic on the Te Puke Highway will be impacted by reduced speed when passing the works. The speed limit will be 50km/h for a 200-300 meter section.”

Pipeline surveying has already started.

'You will see traffic management in place along Te Puke Highway and Welcome Bay Road when needed at this stage.

'Contractor HEB is working with the traffic management team to minimise delays in travel and disruption to the access of properties.

'Construction for the pipeline will start off-road for approximately a month between Te Puke Highway and Welcome Bay road on a section of unformed road near the kennels/cattery.”

The Waiari Water Supply Scheme is designed to help meet the future water supply needs of Tauranga and the wider Western Bay of Plenty.

For more information about the Waiari Water Supply Scheme click here: