The digging of the road has begun
Monday 8 June 2009, 10:31PM
737 views
The East Taupo Arterial (ETA) reached a significant project milestone with the physical digging of the road now underway.
Motor scrapers and dump trucks arrived on site last week to begin the earthworks on the southern area of the ETA route. They will dig from Anzac Memorial Drive and work their way north to State Highway 5 over the coming weeks. Earthworks also commenced in the central area, between the Waikato River and Broadlands Road.
In total 1,100,000 cubic metres of soil will be shifted during the winter months with about half of the material being reused for the structures of the Centennial Drive and Broadlands Road over-bridges. The earthworks have been timed for the winter months to help minimise the dust created from our light pumice soils.
Taupo District Council’s Project Manager Ron Boyle says he is happy with the road’s progress to date and is excited that we have reached this phase of the project. “We are moving into the business end now – the physical digging. This is a historical milestone for the East Taupo Arterial and for the Taupo district,” he said.
With the increased activity on the ETA, members of the public are reminded not to venture into the site, for their own safety.
ETA project overview
The 16km highway, which runs along the eastern outskirts of Taupo (from Wairakei to Taupo Airport) and includes a bridge over the Waikato River, is expected to be complete in March 2011.
The objective of the East Taupo Arterial is to reduce the number of heavy vehicles travelling through the Taupo CBD and along the lakefront and to reduce traffic congestion during holiday season and events.
The current total project cost is estimated at $110 million including construction, investigation design and land purchase. The New Zealand Transport Agency has approved funding assistance of 76.5% and based on current project estimates, Taupo District Council’s cost will be approximately $25.8 million. Council’s share will be funded by the sale of land it owns and from development contributions.