John Key's 2008 election promise that the government will pay $100 million for upgrading Tauranga‘s central corridor will be kept, says a spokeswoman for the Prime Minister today.

The reassurance follows concerns voiced by NZ First, New Zealand Independent Coalition and Tauranga City councillors that Mr Key would not keep his word.

The concerns were raised after the announcement that 15^th Avenue (currently State Highway 2A) will revert to a local road when Route K is taken over by the New Zealand Transport Agency on June 30, 2015.

But the Prime Minister's spokesperson today says the Government remains committed to the Tauranga Central Corridor, and will invest more than $100 million in the project.

'Through the NZ Transport Agency, the Government has fully funded Stages 1 and 2 of the project at a cost of $20m.

'It has also committed to funding Stage 4 of the project – the Maungatapu underpass – at a cost of approximately $68m.

'Construction of Stage 4 is expected to start next year.”

The Prime Minister's office today reports the analysis completed in 2012 concluded the cost estimate for making Turret Road four lanes will be approximately $60m, excluding property costs.

'The Government will likely fund half of this section, bringing its total investment in the Tauranga Central Corridor to more than $115m,” says the spokeswoman.

The Government will invest a total of about $800m into Bay of Plenty roads between 2012 and 2015 through the National Land Transport Programme, making it one of the highest per capita spends in the country.