Garden beds, trees, new concrete paths and boardwalks are all part of the ongoing work around Tauranga city.

Cameron Road streetscaping continues through the avenues, along with the stormwater upgrade.

On Maunganui Road, newly planted trees are lifting the look of the area and in Welcome Bay, Johnson Reserve and Waipuna Park are getting new concrete path and boardwalk improvements

Cameron Road

With planting season upon us, work is underway on planting and mulching in the new garden beds, says a Tauranga City Council spokesperson.

Planting in Zone A is progressing well, which helps complete the look and feel of these new streetscapes.

'While construction continues to progress, the heavy rain we have been having does impact the current work programme.

'When there is wet weather, the team is unable to undertake concrete, asphalt or excavation works, which creates a knock-on effect to the programme. Weather permitting, these activities will continue in the coming weeks.”

Zone A: new planting in the garden beds outside Noel Leeming. Photo: Supplied.

Work is also underway on both the Elizabeth Street and Fifteenth Avenue intersection upgrades.

'Work at these major intersections involves complex underground upgrades to all the cables that power the traffic lights, as well as work on the surrounding streetscaping.

'There are lane closures in place, and we ask for your patience while these important upgrades are underway.”

There are also some upcoming weekend lane closures, with detours on Cameron Road between Fifteenth Avenue and 17^th Avenue, as council contractors replace the stormwater pipes through this section.

Cameron Road will be reduced to one-way - southbound only - from 6am Saturday May 20 to 6am, Monday May 22.

'This work involves deep excavation as we trench across Cameron Road at the Sixteenth Avenue intersection to replace the existing stormwater pipeline.”

Initially, northbound traffic will be diverted along 17^th Avenue, Devonport Road and Fifteenth Avenue. As work progresses across the road, Cameron Road will then become northbound only. Southbound traffic will be diverted along Fifteenth Avenue, Devonport Road and 17^th Avenue.

This work is weather-dependent and if it is not completed between 6am Saturday May 20 to 6am Monday May 22, it will continue from 6am Saturday May 27 to 6am Monday May 29.

As part of the Elizabeth Street intersection upgrade works, there is a left lane closure for southbound traffic from 214 Cameron Road (Pacific Toyota) to the mid-block between Elizabeth Street and First Avenue.

'Also, on Elizabeth Street east, the westbound left lane where traffic turns left into Cameron Road is closed as we work on service investigations and stormwater upgrades.

'Traffic can still access Cameron Road using the centre lane on Elizabeth Street. We expect this work to continue for six weeks, weather dependent.”

Third Avenue to Sixth Avenue streetscaping

Streetscape works are continuing between Third Avenue and Sixth Avenue, where there is a southbound left lane closure.

Fourth Avenue is now open and in use and remains entry-only from Cameron Road.

Arundel Street and Fifth Avenue are both now entry-only, as the team works on the streetscape upgrades through this section. Traffic will be diverted back to Devonport Road to exit on to Cameron Road via Third Avenue (east) or Sixth Avenue (east).

'We expect these closures to be in place for six weeks.”

Seventh Avenue

Work is underway on the Seventh Avenue west intersection.

'As part of the final design of Cameron Road, the Seventh Avenue and Cameron Road (west) intersection will be permanently closed to traffic and become a green space cul-de-sac.

'Cameron Road will still be accessible for traffic from Eighth Avenue and Sixth Avenue.

'In the lead-up to this work, the team is carrying out hydrovac service investigations. Noise and vibration is associated with this work. Temporary traffic management including lane and shoulder closures will be in place while this work is underway.”

Works continue on the western side of Cameron Road on both the stormwater and wastewater, with left lane closures for northbound traffic in place from Eleventh Avenue to Eight Avenue, and for the majority of the journey between Sixth Avenue and Elizabeth Street.

'Stormwater works across the Tenth Avenue intersection continue to progress, and we expect this intersection closure to remain in place for five weeks, weather dependent."

Fifteenth Avenue

Further south on the eastern side of Cameron Road, work to upgrade the Fifteenth Avenue intersection is continuing.

'The westbound left lane of Fifteenth Avenue, where traffic turns left on to Cameron Road, is now closed for this upgrade and will remain closed for the duration of this work, which we expect to take six weeks, weather dependent.

'Traffic can still turn left from Fifteenth Avenue on to Cameron Road using the centre lane.”

Work on the intersection upgrade is currently underway at the south-east (Academy Motor Inn) corner.

'Work will then progress on the remaining three corners, one at a time. The signalised intersection will also be maintained during these works.”

Work on the streetscape is continuing between Fifteenth Avenue and Sixteenth Avenue, with the stormwater upgrade progressing through the Sixteenth Avenue intersection, which remains closed.

'This work continues towards 17th Avenue to the mid-block. There is a southbound left lane closure in this section.

'Please take care driving through the construction zones and be kind to the Cameron Road Joint Venture team, who are more than happy to help if you need assistance finding your way through the site.”

Intersection work:

• Elizabeth Street (west): there is a northbound left lane closure on Cameron Road from Third Avenue to the Elizabeth Street intersection, Elizabeth Street is still accessible for northbound traffic using the right-hand lane.
• Elizabeth Street (east): there is a left lane closure for traffic turning left from Elizabeth on to Cameron Road. Traffic can still turn left from Elizabeth Street on to Cameron Road using the centre lane.
• Third Avenue (west): is exit-only as the team works on the stormwater and streetscape upgrade. We expect the entry to reopen in coming weeks.
• Fourth Avenue intersection (east): is now open and remains entry only.
• Arundel Street: is entry only.
• Fifth Avenue (east): is entry only.
• Seventh Avenue (west): is now closed permanently to traffic as it becomes a green space cul-de-sac.
• Tenth Avenue intersection (west): this intersection is closed.
• Fifteenth Avenue intersection (east): the left lane that turns from Fifteenth Avenue on to Cameron Road is closed. This closure continues around the corner on to Cameron Road towards 17^th Avenue. Traffic can still access Cameron Road from Fifteenth Avenue by using the centre lane.
• Sixteenth Avenue/Cameron Road (east): is closed. Access to Sixteenth Avenue (east) remains via Devonport Road.

Please note, above works are weather dependent.

Visit our website for more information.

If you're coming into the city, make sure you check the current road closures on the Tauranga City Council website here, so you can navigate easily through the city centre.

Maunganui Road safety improvements

Trees were installed last week with minimal road impacts and are already lifting the look of the area.

As a result of last week's rain, some elements of work such as grass seeding will now take place this week starting Monday, May 15. Brief lane diversions may apply when necessary to get around machinery.

New tree looking great at the roundabout at Matai Street, Mount Maunganui. Photo: Supplied.

Other work scheduled for this section includes:

• Replacement of the temporary painted roundabout at Hinau Street intersection with a permanent dome.
• Planting of greenery.

Tui Street to Hull Road

Plans for this section of Maunganui Road are being drafted. Local business owners and the local community will be contacted for input and feedback as and when draft plans are available.

For more information visit www.tauranga.govt.nz/maunganui or email any questions you may have to MRsafetyimprovements@tauranga.govt.nz.

Welcome Bay Parks improvement at Johnson Reserve and Waipuna Park

The Meander Drive access to Johnson Reserve remains closed until mid-May while the gravel path is replaced with a concrete path and boardwalk.

The nearest alternative access points for people living near the southern end of the reserve is via the Pelorus Street walkway or Victory Street.

The Meander Drive access to Johnson Reserve is getting a new concrete path and boardwalk.Photo: Supplied.

Work to install field drainage on the middle sports fields at Waipuna Park has been completed and training lights are being added to the second field. Later in the year new cricket practice nets will be installed at the northern end of the park.

A new concrete pathway that starts at the northern end of the park, running alongside the middle sports fields on Kaitemako Road and into and around the playground and basketball court, was completed earlier this year.

Work to join the existing footpath at the northern end of Kaitemako Road to the new pathway has been postponed.

"We will keep you up to date with a proposed new start date."

Two new water fountains and four new bench seats are also being added to the park, with all work expected to be completed at the end of June, weather dependent.