Construction of the new 3900sqm Tauranga Police Station on Monmouth Street is progressing well with the new roof in place and internal framing coming together.

Construction of the new Tauranga Police Station is progressing well.

Construction of the $20.8million building began in January after the old building was torn down and is expected to be completed mid-2013.

Former Police Minister Judith Collins announced in 2011 the 45-year-old police station was to be demolished and replaced with a new multi-million dollar facility.

She says the station needed to be replaced due to a lack of space, resulting in police leasing additional buildings around Tauranga.

The new facility building, expected to last for 20 years, is likely to cost $20.8 million to build, and is funded from police baselines.

New Zealand Police project manager Annabel Bayes says construction on-site is going well.

'We are on track with everything. There have been no problems and everything is going according to plan.”

Annabel says the station is due for completion in July.

Western Bay of Plenty area commander Inspector Clifford Paxton says the opening of the new facility could not come fast enough for Tauranga Police.

'The staff have adapted very well to their temporary accommodation and are enjoying the new surroundings, but are very much looking forward to moving to the new station.”