Bypass on track but there's plenty of work to be completed

Appearances can be deceiving.

Construction of Tauranga's $51 million Pyes Pyes bypass seems to have had a sudden spurt towards the finishing line.

But the laying of a tarseal chip coating on top of new foundations at each end of the bypass only signifies that work has wound down for the winter.

The New Zealand Transport Agency's Bay of Plenty manager Rod James said the chip seal had been laid to prevent rain penetrating and damaging the foundations.

Mr James said this season's construction targets had all been achieved, with the road due to open in about a year.

Minor drainage works will continue until the end of next month, with construction of the road resuming in September.

This season's progress saw massive quantities of pre-load material removed, foundations constructed at both ends of the bypass, along with associated drainage and kerbing.

Work left to be done "included building roundabouts at the intersections with State Highway 36 (Pyes Pa Rd) and Kennedy Rd, constructing the mid-section foundations and laying the final road surface along the whole route".

The Lakes developer, Grasshopper Holdings, was contracted to do the $22 million foundation earthworks, using material shifted by earthmovers in the construction of The Lakes.

The $8.4 million contract to build the 4.2km road was won by HEB. The project is a joint venture between the agency and Tauranga City Council.