Funding for Crown Road connector approved

Taupo Mayor Rick Cooper is pleased that the NZ Transport Agency have approved funding to enable a connector road in the Crown Road area to address the loss of access due to the construction of the ETA.

Roading Manager Denis Lewis says, “Crown Road has been cut off by the construction of the East Taupo Arterial and in recognition of the impact this is having on businesses and residents in the locality, NZTA and TDC have agreed to the construction of the connector road from Crown Road to State Highway 5 as part of the ETA project.

Mr Lewis says construction of the connector road will start immediately and will be completed at the same time as the ETA. “This will assist the project to achieve the primary objective of relieving local streets of heavy commercial traffic.”

Mayor Rick Cooper says he is very pleased that the concerns of the businesses and residents in the Crown Road area have been listened to and acted upon so promptly. “We have had an open and ongoing dialogue with NZTA ever since we first went to the Regional Director with these issues earlier this year. I am extremely impressed with both the outcome we have managed to obtain and the relative speed at which it has come about.”

“I look forward to seeing the bulldozers out there the next time I drive past,” he said.

The temporary detour in place will remain in the mean time.