Plans to reduce congestion and improve walking and cycling facilities on 15th Ave, Turret Road and Welcome Bay Road are open for community feedback.
The Connecting the people. 15th Ave to Welcome Bay project aims to reduce single occupancy vehicle use and make it more attractive to travel by bus, walk, cycle or scooter.
This is one of the key projects in the Western Bay of Plenty Transport System Plan - a shared transport vision for the region over the next 30 years to make sure transport projects are not done in isolation and that they work for everyone.
Tauranga City Council transport director Brendan Bisley says as Tauranga continues to grow, this key route will become even more important.
“We know there are lots of challenges for people travelling in this area. Over the years, there have been many studies carried out on this route, with valuable feedback provided by the community.
“Council now has an opportunity to seek funding from Government to improve transport in this area and we’re working closely with our partners - mana whenua, Bay of Plenty Regional Council, and Waka Kotahi NZ Transport Agency - to achieve that.”
Proposed options for improvements to 15th Ave, Turret Road, Hairini Bridge and causeway and Welcome Bay Road include:
- High occupancy vehicle (T2 or T3) lanes or bus priority lanes.
- A third lane between Burrows Street and SH29A interchange (across the Hairini Bridge and causeway). This could be a ‘tidal flow’ lane which means the direction of the traffic lanes can be changed depending on the demand.
- A clip-on shared path on the Hairini Bridge for people walking, cycling, scootering or using a mobility device.
- New shared paths and improved on-road cycle facilities that will help connect people to schools, shopping, and other activities.
- New signalised crossings on 15th Ave and Welcome Bay Road.
- Safety improvements including 30km speed zones near schools, raised tables on the approaches to some intersections and centre median barriers on 15th Ave.
- A turnaround bay on Turret Road near the Hairini Bridge to provide drivers a place to turn safely.
Map showing an overview of the project area.
Brendan says considering a long-term option is also part of the planning.
“We are investigating when four lanes between Burrows Street and the SH29A Interchange might be needed. We do not believe this will be needed in the short term and will use further test results on the bridge life expectancy and traffic modelling to understand timing.”
A three-lane option across the Hairini Bridge and causeway will cost about $100m, compared to $300m (high level estimates only) for a continuation of four lanes from Burrows Street to the end of the Hairini causeway, which could also take a long time to plan, consent and build.
The additional costs relate to the need to purchase property and build a new bridge.
“We believe the three-lane option is a good short to medium term option to make the best use of the existing bridge for its remaining life, improve transport choices along the corridor and reduce congestion,” says Brendan.
Feedback from the community will help inform the business case to seek funding from central government and develop a detailed design.
If the business case is successful, Council will consult with the community again on the detailed design before any physical works begin.
Community consultation opens today and will run until 5pm Friday, October 6.
To have your say, head to letstalk.tauranga.govt.nz/welcomebay.
The project team will also be available to speak with at the following in-person community drop-in sessions:
Thursday 21 September anytime between 12pm - 2pm or 3:30pm – 5:30pm at Welcome Bay Hall, 244 Welcome Bay Road, Welcome Bay (next to Caltex service station).
9 comments
The Master
Posted on 13-09-2023 12:17 | By Ian Stevenson
Interesting, TCC planning? To reduce congestion? If that us what they say and somehow that actually happened would be a first, EVER!
The TCC track record on anything roads/traffic related dos not even get to being as good as an abysmal failure 24/7, lets also not forget that the Commissioners are "listening", that's why there is no consultation this year on the annual plan and a lot more, that is meaningful and genuine...
The unstated intention of TCC is: - bikes, walking and buses as the only means of transport in Tauranga. That plan underlies all they have done and are doing now and forward. make no mistake, no matter the cost, congestion or anything else, they just "Know" what is best for all you all out there....
More unused cycle paths
Posted on 13-09-2023 12:20 | By Let's get real
How the heck do you reduce congestion by focusing on cyclists, walkers and scooters...? What sort of idiots are we employing in council...? There are a minimal number of people using cycles and scooters and its extremely unlikely that numbers are going to rise in the short-term. So why not improve the situation for motorists and if numbers of cyclists increase dramatically, then the groundwork for changes in the future are in place and functional.
Competent Contractor please
Posted on 13-09-2023 17:36 | By Blasta
When you do decide to finally do something, PLEASE use competent contractors!
The last 2-4 years have been blindingly incompetence at best!
Same old council tune
Posted on 13-09-2023 18:29 | By First Responder
Typical council attitude. Bus lanes and cycle lanes. Absolute waste of money. No one uses them, no one wants them. Just look at Cameron Rd. Haven't seen a bike on it yet. Stop coming up with half baked ideas. Get on, bite the bullet and do it properly. 4 lanes all the way. Just go the other side of the peninsula from Burrows street, new 4 lane bridge across. With the typical mucking around, it will cost 4 x the amount by the time you come to do it, not to mention what the consultants will suck out of it. No, our transport engineers live in the past. No wonder the city infrastructure is stuffed.
Little confidence
Posted on 14-09-2023 08:48 | By Kancho
Seems a lot of money for bike/walk lanes . So basically the same scenario and tinkering as elsewhere in the city. Most of the traffic gets a maybe in the future? Welcome Bay has been allowed to grow but the pinch point has remained. Buses are still ineffective without park and ride facilities and reliable frequency. Depressing and further disruption to achieve a partial result for the few and not much for the majority and the can kicked further down the road. Guess it's wait and see but a lot more road works throughout the city for many years to come
Just don't get it
Posted on 14-09-2023 10:20 | By Informed
Love the boomers that still don't understand cycle lanes. Cycling growth in Tauranga year on year, with thousands of trips every days (and that's thousands of cars off the roads). But because they don't see bikes stuck in gridlock they seem to think they aren't used.
Cars are the most inefficient use of space/land. But of course for the boomer car driver, not only do they want council to spend all of the money on them, they don't want any money spent on those they get off their ass and get on a bike. The privileged attitude is amazing.....
Change of narrative
Posted on 14-09-2023 12:34 | By Fernhill22
We need this Govt & Councils to change the narrative where they are trying to push people into using bikes, buses & scooters-it just isn't going to happen. On the other hand, the Govt wants everyone using EV vehicles so wouldn't you want to build better roading & infrastructure to handle these vehicles as well as existing vehicles too??
What we need is change & accountability and to start cutting back costs right from the top- from the commissioner's salaries, through to inept council employees, reviewing the contractors that TCC employ, and getting value for money. TCC are spending money that they don't have on projects that add no value to ratepayers & aren't listening to the people who are paying their salaries. Time to wake up to reality.
this...
Posted on 14-09-2023 17:34 | By hexsayer
this is why i drive a deregistered (lapsed rego ) car, was being fixed up, mechanical repairs, nearly full restoration. this is why i havent wanted to pay re-entry compliance certification on a car imported in 2010 or for re-vinning even if nzta have issued permission for me to use my current plates. thats possibly $900 without adding in maintenance, gas, gas tax, Tauranga traffic and the abysmal driving skills or deficiency thereof, road tax, gst, everything.. im not paying to these empty cycleways. youre not meeting your end of the deal in keeping our roads in a reasonable to use state, councils impeding of traffic to impose a "congestion fee" has convinced me towards keeping my money thanks.
get councillors with practicable qualifications , only stupid and shallow people judge others soley just on how they look, their smile, words- nothing. lies.
Better use of money
Posted on 16-09-2023 19:14 | By CliftonGuy
It would be better to divert the money presently earmarked for the White Elephant projects of remodelling the Domain and building a fancy library towards widening this arterial road into the city.
The Council needs to get its priorities right. Do the job properly. A half-baked job will serve nobody any good. Widen this portion of road out fully to four lanes. Look at the Auckland harbour crossing which was cut down from the original width, then it had to be widened once it was realised that the bridge as-built did not adequately serve the purpose.
Do it once. Do it right first time.
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