New aerial footage has captured the growing scale of the Takitimu North Link Stage 1 project, as work nears the end of another construction season.

The flyover offers a bird’s-eye view of the four-lane highway taking shape between Tauranga and Te Puna, showcasing the progress made on the Road of National Significance.

Adrian Jones, NZ Transport Agency Waka Kotahi manager infrastructure delivery for Waikato and Bay of Plenty, said the project’s joint venture contractors, Fulton Hogan and HEB, are now into their fifth year on site.

“They have reached many important milestones and are closing in on completion of the enormous three million cubic metre earthworks programme – enough material to fill Mercury Baypark Stadium 15 times,” Jones said in a media release.

Despite wetter-than-usual conditions through peak construction months, crews have continued to make steady progress across the site.

“While embankments require ongoing repairs and maintenance until vegetation is fully established, planting is being carried out as soon as conditions allow.

“Stock from local nurseries is being used to stabilise the ground, reduce erosion and support long-term resilience,” he said.

A key focus has been structural work, with 10 bridges due for completion this year.

The project is now beginning to transition into pavement construction – a phase where the new highway becomes more visible.

Initial pavement work has already started in Te Mete Valley and near the Te Puna end of the route.

Alongside construction, significant environmental work is underway, including wetlands, fish passages and drainage systems, as well as the planting of hundreds of thousands of native plants.

Jones also acknowledged strong community engagement at a recent information day in Tauranga.

“It was fantastic to see such a strong turnout and to connect with the people who live, work and travel through State Highway 2 between Tauranga and Te Puna,” he said.

High levels of activity are expected to continue through autumn and winter, with several major work areas progressing.

A ‘super weekend’ of construction is planned from June 5 to June 8, weather permitting, to advance road widening at the SH29/Takitimu Drive Toll Rd off-ramp onto SH2/15th Ave towards the Tauranga CBD.

“Work in this area, including an additional lane and gantry foundations, has been ongoing since February.”

Once widening work is complete, crews will move to the new single-lane bridge connection from 15th Avenue, where multiple sites are active with pavements, bridge panels, gantries and associated works.

At the SH29/Takitimu Drive interchange, major elements are also advancing. The 363m northbound flyover bridge and southbound slip lane are complete, with road widening underway to provide two lanes for traffic and improve safety.

Traffic is expected to shift on to the new bridge in the coming months once approach works are finished.

Crews will then focus on upgrading the existing road and building a new roundabout to link with the future Takitimu North Link expressway.

With work progressing across multiple fronts, the latest aerial footage provides a snapshot of the scale and pace of one of the Western Bay of Plenty’s largest transport projects.