A bucket load of dirt marked the beginning of the $45 million Maungatapu underpass project today, as Transport Minister Simon Bridges dug the first sod at an onsite ceremony.

Work is set to begin in earnest in mid-September. 'The project will separate state highway and local traffic, easing congestion and improving safety as Tauranga continues to grow now and into the future,” says the MP.

A digital impression of the new $45 million Maungatapu underpass project. For a video overview, see below. Photo: Supplied.

'The underpass will also make it safer and easier to walk and bike around this area, with new paths and a cycling and walking bridge over State Highway 29A to be built.

The underpass, which will take three years to complete, is the fourth stage of the Hairini Link project.

'We know that transport is an enabler of economic activity,” adds Simon, 'so we need to continue unlocking key congestion points to get people and freight moving swiftly around the city.”

The NZ Transport Agency's long term plan is to create a ring road around the city.

'The ring road will be made up of the completion of this underpass,” says Simon, 'as well as the rest of the Hairini Link project along with the $455 million Tauranga Eastern Link, the $68 million Route K and the upcoming $102 million Baypark to Bayfair project.

'Together they will help reduce congestion and support growth by moving traffic, people and products around the city to drive social and economic growth.”

Today's wet weather meant the speeches were held inside Baden Powell Centre, with guests heading outside to watch Simon use a digger to turn the first sod.

Kaumatua Huikakahu Kawe reminded the dignitaries and guests of the cost of the project in terms of the land from its Maori owners and set aside for the roading project.

'It was taken fifty years ago,” says Huikakahu, 'so there's been many tears shed over this land.”

The representatives of the three hapu today are the children and grandchildren of the people from which the land was taken.

Guests included National MPs Todd McClay and Todd Muller, Tauranga mayor Stuart Crosby and city councillors and representatives from the businesses undertaking the three year project – which Simon joked should be finished by mid-2017, which is election year.

The underpass will separate state highway and local traffic, reducing congestion at peak times and making travel safer for pedestrians and cyclists.

'This area is extremely busy, especially at peak times,” says the Transport Agency's Bay of Plenty highway manager, Niclas Johansson.

The Transport Agency will work closely with the contractor and the community to minimise disruption during the project, adds Niclas.

Transport Minister Simon Bridges starts off the Maungatapu underpass project today. Photos: Andrew Campbell.

Information days will be held on September 11 and 12 at the Baden Powell Centre to explain what the onsite process over the next three years of construction.

'This is a complex project on a busy stretch of road and there will be extensive traffic management and changes to the road layout,” says Niclas.

'Contractors will be working between 9am and 4pm to minimise delays during peak times, but we are going to need everyone's patience and understanding during construction.”

Houses in Hammond Street were removed earlier this month in preparation for work to start, and a new temporary access to Hammond Street is being built, along with a right-turn bay on SH29A and the connection between SH29A and Hammond Street.

The existing Hammond Street and Welcome Bay Road intersection will be closed in early September. Residential traffic will only be able to enter from Tauranga in the newly created turn lane on SH29A

The temporary access out of Hammond Street will be left-turn only. Motorists heading to Te Maunga will need to turn left and travel back around the Maungatapu roundabout.

The temporary Hammond Street access will be in place for the duration of the project.

Once the Maungatapu underpass opens, the Hammond Street access will close and the Welcome Bay Road access will reopen.

The information days will be held from 2pm until 6pm on Friday, September 11, and from 8.30am until 12pm the following day. People can attend anytime between these hours.

To sign up for regular updates on the project email: hairinilink@nzta.govt.nz or for more information go to: www.nzta.govt.nz/projects/hairini-link/