The $70million Hairini Link project is moving forward with the New Zealand Transport Agency applying for funding to begin construction on the roadway.

NZTA Waikato Bay of plenty regional director Harry Wilson updated Tauranga City Council's City Delivery Committee yesterday saying funding has been lodged.

The Hairini Link project is aimed at increasing traffic capacity through Tauranga's central corridor.

The project will separate Welcome Bay commuter traffic from State Highway 29 traffic by an underpass at the Maungatapu roundabout, a raised roadway down into the Kaitemako Valley, and a roundabout and new bridge across the Kaitemako Stream.

It will provide motorists with a direct link from Turret Road at the Hairini causeway to Welcome Bay.

Yesterday's visit follows Monday's full council meeting where some city councillors expressed concerns about the Route K deal.

From 2015 Route K will become a state highway under NZTA but the $62.5 million or so debt will remain with TCC. The agency will pay off the roadway with monthly payments from the tolls revenue.

After explaining why the agency cannot buy an existing road because the cost benefit has already been realised, Harry told councillors the agency is also about to start spending well over the Route K debt on other Tauranga roads.

The $450 million Tauranga Eastern Link project is ahead of schedule and may now be open for traffic in July 2015 – the same date that Route K, with new electronic tolling, becomes part of the State Highways Network.

Some parts of the new highway are being surfaced already, says Harry.

The $120 million or so Bayfair roundabout rebuild project is going through the last of the discussion processes. As with Welcome Bay, it is going to involve grade separation to handle traffic volumes. It is timed from completion after the TEL opening.

The Northern Link project - State Highway 2 through Bethlehem to Katikati - remains on the back burner.

NZTA BOP highways manager, Brett Gliddon, says funding for that project depends on traffic volume trigger points being met.

Meanwhile, the Adern Cottage curves realignment, costing $4.5 million, is nearly finished. The work takes out a couple of curves at the Waihi Beach end of the Athenree Gorge.

A roundabout on the Te Puna/Minden Road intersection is expected to begin construction in the next 18 months, says Brett.

The agency is also spending $40 million over five years for safety, median and side barriers on SH2. The Tauriko upgrade project is in the investigation phase.