Bus lanes are being extended in Hewletts Road to boost public transport use, improve safety and help to ease traffic congestion on the busy State Highway 2 route.

There's a new bus lane is to be installed near the Tauranga Marina for buses travelling towards Mount Maunganui, and bus lanes near the Port of Tauranga will be extended.

An extra right turn bay is also to be added for vehicles exiting Jean Batten Drive to help traffic flow and reduce the time vehicles wait at the traffic lights.

Work on the changes is due to start in June and is expected to be finished in August 2017.

New Zealand Transport Agency Bay of Plenty highways manager Niclas Johansson says the changes to the lanes will help to make buses a more attractive transport choice.

'More than 180 bus trips are made on Hewletts Road every day. The additional bus lane and upgrades to existing bus lanes will allow buses to move through the traffic, reducing delays for people who use public transport.

'Bus travel times also need to be more reliable and bus lanes like these help to achieve that.”

Cyclists will also be able to ride in the bus lanes, use the off road path between Totara Street and Dive Crescent or travel along Totara Street south behind the Ballance Agri-Nutrients, if they are travelling toward Tauranga.

'The bus lanes have been made more than four metres wide to allow buses and people on bikes or motorcycles to share with care.

'These changes are a start but people can help by planning ahead to avoid spending their time in traffic. See what other options are out there. Walk, bike, carpool, or take public transport, plan ahead and if possible, start work later or earlier and avoid the delay.”

The NZTA is also looking at introducing initiatives such as High Occupancy Vehicle or T3 lanes, which allow vehicles with three or more people to use bus lanes. This will benefit drivers who plan ahead and carpool.

Where the bus lanes are to be extended. Image: NZTA