Totara Street is a vital and heavily used road for local industry, the port (pictured), commuters and visitors, says Tauranga City Council. Photo: RNZ / Cole Eastham-Farrelly
Motorists can expect major delays in Mount Maunganui over the next few days, as the council works on an upgrade to Totara Street.
Tauranga City Council said roadworks began at 8pm on Friday and would be complete by 6am on 14 February.
The northbound lane of Totara Street between Hewletts Road and Hull Road were closed and detours were in place via Hewletts Road, Maunganui Road, and Hull Road. Motorists were able to use the eastbound Hewletts Road bus lane going toward Maunganui Road.
Photo: Supplied / Tauranga City Council
The council said the upgrade has been held off for several years while other works in the area were underway, but it could not be delayed any longer because areas of it have reached the end of life.
The work being done would improve the structural integrity and safety of the road for the next 40 years, and doing it this way rather than resealing meant it would take four days instead of six weeks, it said.
Totara Street was a vital and heavily used road for local industry, the port, commuters and visitors, the council said, acknowledging the delays would be frustrating for people.
The council asked residents to allow extra time for travel or to consider working from home if possible.