Navigating Cameron Road for what seems like 'months on end” during a once-in-a-century reconstruction of stormwater and roading has been testing the patience and resilience of motorists and nearby businesses alike.

A civic road construction project being undertaken while traffic continues around and through the construction zone requires meticulous planning in order to execute it efficiently and with minimal disruption to the local residents.

Zane Hawken is a Zone Manager for the Cameron Road construction which means he is overseeing everything taking place along the area he's working in.

'I started my career by pursuing an engineering degree at the University of Canterbury,” says Zane.

'This led me to secure an internship with Downer, where I gained valuable experience and developed a passion for construction.”

Since then, Zane has been involved in various construction projects, such as building roads, pipes, bridges, and train stations.

'I have recently relocated to Tauranga, but prior to that have worked in a variety of different locations.

'These include constructing a bridge in Te Kuiti, a roading upgrade in Rotorua, a wastewater treatment plant in Hamilton, a two-year stint in London constructing a tube station, and three years in Christchurch working on a motorway project.”

Zane's role here in Tauranga involves coordinating various aspects of intersection work, including traffic management, construction sequencing, traffic signal installation, kerbs and footpaths, road pavements, and stormwater.

Steel Spiral Pipe Company supplying pipes for a pressure water supply pipeline for Tauranga in 1908. Image courtesy of Kete Horowhenua.

'Essentially, I oversee everything that takes place in the areas I have been designated.”
A usual day on the job for Zane involves an early start connecting with the crews and planning ahead.
'I typically start the day by attending the 7am pre-start meeting, where I catch up with all the crews and ensure we have a plan for the day.

'Following that, I visit the various sites where we're working for the day to assess progress, address construction issues, provide guidance on problem-solving, and conduct quality checks.

'Afterwards, I usually head back to the office to perform planning work for future projects, such as scheduling subcontractors, procuring materials, and organising necessary equipment. Additionally, I coordinate extensively with other teams, including designers, Tauranga City Council, and our communications team.”

Creating connected communities Tauranga City Council has been working with the community to develop a 30-year plan for Te Papa peninsula that will provide greater housing choices, safe and efficient transport options, local amenities and the infrastructure needed to support healthy and connected communities now and in the future.

The transforming of Cameron Road is only the first project on the path to bringing this plan to life. It aligns with the city's wider strategies, including the Urban Form Transport Initiative and Western Bay of Plenty Transport System Plan that have been endorsed by Council.

Map showing Zones A, B and C on Cameron Road which is Stage One of the project. Image: Tauranga City Council.

This project has been broken into three stages:

Stage one - is from Harington Street to the hospital, the planning and construction for this has been funded by Central Government.

Stage two - is from the hospital to Barkes Corner, and the funding for developing a business case and design was included in the grant from Central Government.

Stage three - a long-term goal, pending funding, will create a connection from Barkes Corner to Tauranga Crossing in Tauriko. There are no set dates for this stage.

Below the surface

Some pipes underneath Cameron Road are still made of clay and are over 100 years old. Many aspects of Zane's job are challenging, especially all the unknowns below the surface.

Map showing the future of Cameron Road. Image: Tauranga City Council.

'Particularly the unexpected factors such as underground surprises, machinery malfunctions, and adverse weather conditions.

'A big challenge on the Cameron Road project is the uncertainty beneath the ground. Despite lots of planning, the true nature of what lies beneath remains hidden until excavation begins.

'This often leads to unforeseen obstacles such as encountering obstructing poles, requiring swift plan adjustments to keep the project on track.”

Tauranga City Council has made the most of the opportunity to prepare for growth and replace and upsize the old wastewater pipes.

"This upgrade of our wastewater assets will help to realise the Te Papa Spatial Plan, supporting more housing and business developments along the Cameron Road corridor,” says a council spokesperson.

Around 3km of sewer pipes underneath Cameron Road and connecting to properties and side streets have been upgraded and the wastewater upgrade of the main pipeline along Cameron Road from Hamilton Street to Elizabeth Street, and Second Avenue to Sixth Avenue is complete.

Streetscape and stormwater work on the eastern side of Cameron Road is complete, Upgrades to some of the small intersections as well as the major intersections at Thirteenth Avenue, Fifteenth Avenue, and Elizabeth Street have been a main work forcus.

More information on work in Zone A - Harington Street to Sixth Ave, Zone B - Sixth Ave to Twelfth Ave, and Zone C - Twelfth Ave to Seventeenth Ave can be found here

Across the whole construction site, more than 8100m2 of asphalt has been laid for footpaths and cycleways and 5300m of concrete for new kerbing.

Zane says his favourite part of what he does is at the completion of a job – whether it's a road or a bridge or pipeline.

'It's rewarding to be able to step back and appreciate the engineering and hard work that's gone into constructing it.”

When asked what he is looking forward to once the upgrades to Cameron Road are completed, Zane says 'cycling down the new two-way cycleway and admiring all the work we have completed”.