An announcement regarding the government's plans to improve the safety of the State Highway 2 corridor between Waihī and Tauranga has gained widespread support.

The New Zealand Transport Agency has re-evaluated the transport plans for the corridor, to align with priorities set out in the Government Policy Statement on Land Transport.

The Transport Agency has confirmed the need for a new state highway on the current alignment of the Tauranga Northern Link.

The new plans include a two lane route - one lane in each direction - between Te Puna and Tauranga alongside the existing road. This will mean there are four lanes of capacity on the corridor.

There is an option for additional lanes on SH2, which may include a range of uses including enabling public transport to cater for growth to the west of the city.

The construction timing and form of this route will depend on growth and funding priorities across the rest of the country.

System Design and Delivery, Brett Gliddon, says the plans will deliver short term safety improvements and more reliable public transport access on the existing state highway, while continuing work to protect land for a new route in the long term.

'This programme will give people more transport choices including buses, walking and cycling to help cater for the growing communities and visitors travelling into Tauranga," says Brett.

'To begin with, we will focus on making people's journeys safer with improvements to the existing road, such as flexible median and side barriers, wide centrelines and protecting people from hazards on the roadsides.

"The first section of the $101 million Waihi to Omokoroa safety improvements package is already underway.

'Between Omokoroa and Te Puna, we will start with safety improvements including an upgrade of the Omokoroa intersection.

"We will work with partners to improve and encourage public transport use including allowing greater space within the existing corridor for public transport and vehicles with more than two people (high occupancy vehicles).

'In Katikati, we will work with the community to design solutions to make the town centre a better place to live by improving traffic management.

'We will continue to hold the land designations which protect the route between Omokoroa and Te Puna, the Katikati bypass and the Tauranga Northern Link. This means that we will still have the ability to construct in these designations when the timing is right.”

A speed limit review of SH2 between Katikati and Bethlehem is also underway and a community consultation is expected to take place.

Bay of Plenty regional transport committee chairman Stuart Crosby says SH2 is the region's highest transport priority and it is encouraging that the local communities have been heard.

'As a council we put three SH2 projects at the top of the state highway improvement priority list in the draft Regional Land Transport Plan in May,” he says.

The NZTA has announced new plans for SH2 that deliver a new road with potential for priority lanes for public transport/high occupancy vehicles as well as maintaining the existing two lane highway.

Stuart says the region needs that capacity as a matter of urgency.

'Across the region we will be driving hard in support of the fastest and best solutions to make our region's roads safer, less congested and more sustainable.”

Leaders in the Western Bay of Plenty will work with the NZTA on a joint approach that develops future transport in line with urban planning, economic development, freight demand and job growth.

Stuarts comments are in line with those made by Minister of Transport Phil Twyford, who says the re-evaluation has produced the best solution for the community.

He says nobody wants any more lives lost on these roads.

'NZTA is prioritising urgent safety improvements to these roads to make them more forgiving of human error. Drivers will always make mistakes and the government's job is to stop those mistakes turning into tragedies.

'A total of four lanes of capacity along these routes will help meet future traffic volumes.

'These re-evaluated projects will help grow our regions, get the best value for our transport dollar, and save lives on our roads,” says Phil.

The re-evaluation in the Bay of Plenty is one of three, which also includes the road from Otaki to North of Levin, and Whangarei to Warkworth.

The nine other re-evaluations are on-going and all will be complete in December.

The exact plans, cost and timing for these projects are still being worked through, however the Transport Agency understands the urgency that is needed on SH2 between Waihi and Te Puna and this work is being prioritised.