The state of SH2 between Tauranga and Katikati cannot be excused by commitment to other more pressing highway work as excused by Hillary Burrows (The Weekend Sun, April 26).

Driving as part of my work around the North Island highways, this highway, vehicles per day, is the most impoverished and dangerous of all with the possible exception of SH1 Northland which is also a disgrace.

When I first started travelling this strip of highway regularly 48 years ago the removal of two railway overbridges near Katikati and some three laning between Apata and Katikati are the only significant improvements.

In that time the traffic flow has increased by I guess 400 per cent or more and if NZTA published stat's, which they don't, fatalities per kilometre this would be top-ten stuff without question.

Need more? In highways of national significance this is right up there with port access and the use by rapidly growing horticulture and residential development, NZTA are digging a hole for themselves to bury their heads in (shame!).

A cynical person would say that the Labour-led coalition don't care about a true blue National voting bloc.

Until this most inept and obstinate of ministers is forced from office we won't see a resumption of the Northern Arterial which was funded and land provided to start mid last year.

Wake up Tauranga City, its councillors and business leaders, this is the biggest threat to the local growth economy.

M Maunder, Otumoetai