Works on the next stage of improvements along State Highway 30/Te Ngae Road in the Bay of Plenty will start shortly.

A dawn blessing by Eastside hapū held on Tuesday, led by Ngāti Te Roro o Te Rangi, Ngāti Hurungaterangi and Ngāti Uenukukōpako, signals the beginning of the next stage of improvements along SH30/Te Ngae Road and calls for spiritual guidance and protection over the work and the people involved.

Waka Kotahi NZ Transport Agency Regional Manager Infrastructure Delivery Jo Wilton says the upgrade aims to make it easier for people to safely move around Eastside by providing better travel choices and accommodating future growth along one of the main gateways into Rotorua.

'With the Stage One works between Sala Street and Iles Road complete, we're now moving on to improve the next section of SH30/Te Ngae Road.

'This is an exciting project for the Eastside community, which will improve safety for people walking, cycling and driving; make intersections more efficient; support current and future developments; and provide better travel choices.

'Tuesday's blessing and the ongoing working partnership with the Eastside hapū puts us in a fortunate position as we embark on the construction of this stage.

'This project aims to support the vision of the Eastside community for a connected, vibrant, safe and thriving community that nurtures and nourishes both the people and the environment.”

Paraone Pirika, Kaumatua of Ngāti Te Roro o te Rangi and Ngāti Uenukukōpako, has been guiding the transformation of the Eastern Corridor from the improvements between Sala Street and Iles Road, and now the SH30 Eastern Corridor Stage Two works about to get underway.

'Our vision for Eastside revolves around oranga – wellness and all that contributes to wellness of the land and the people. A place where our children are kept safe and can reach their potential,” says Paraone.

'Therein lies the significance of our roadways and this next stage to upgrade SH30/Te Ngae Road is another example of oranga at work.

'Starting a new project that will significantly improve the wellness of our people is a wonderful opportunity to bring everyone together to the whenua and acknowledge those who have come before and others who follow.”

Rotorua Mayor Steve Chadwick says the upgrades to SH30/Te Ngae Road have played a significant part in enabling more housing and commercial investment in Rotorua.

'Developing key partnerships, attracting investment and focussing on infrastructure are all parts of Council's plan to enable the development the city needs,” Mayor Chadwick says.

'The community has been incredibly patient and there will be more traffic disruption in 2022, but we're starting to see the benefits and I'm looking forward to seeing the investment into the city continue next year.”

Wilton says the upgrade will commence in three consecutive zones, starting at Iles Road and finishing at Coulter Road.

'We're starting with works between Iles Road and Basley Road and in the first months, people will see excavations and road widening works taking place.

'Our team will first work in the berm and footpath to relocate services and underground existing overhead power cables. New street lighting will then be installed in the middle of the road and sealing will take place with new traffic signals operating at the Basley Road intersection.

'A major part of the project involves upgrading underground services including power, water and fibre, and we're working closely with councils and utility providers, Eastside hapū and the community to coordinate the works to keep disruption to a minimum.”

Traffic management will be in place and access to properties will be maintained, though may be restricted during the works.

About the project

Phase One received $35 million from the Government's Crown Infrastructure Partners funding for construction to support growth and development in Eastside Rotorua. The project is expected to take about 22 months to complete.

The upgrade aims to:

• improve local connectivity
• increase the number of people walking and cycling
• improve reliability of bus services
• improve better access to walking and cycling opportunities
• support a reduction in greenhouse gas emissions.

Phase One key improvements:

• Raised safety platforms at Tennyson Drive, Tumene Drive and Brent Road
• Upgrades to key intersections at Wharenui Road, Ōwhata Road and Basley Road
• New three-metre-wide shared path and separate on-road cycle lane
• Four lanes between Iles and Basley Roads
• New pedestrian crossings, bus stops and safety improvements

nzta.govt.nz/eastern-corridor-stage2

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