'Why did the chicken cross the road? Because there's no underpass.”

One wag's placard at the Bayfair underpass protest last weekend – perhaps underplaying an issue which has become a ‘cause celebre' absorbing all Tauranga all week.

And it promises to fester on.

The heavily graffitied Bayfair underpass is a crucial piece of pedestrian and cycling infrastructure that NZTA plans to rip out next month as B2B, the Bay Park to Bayfair flyover development, edges its way westward to the city.

The cost of replacing the underpass, linking Matapihi and Bayfair beneath SH2, has blown out from $13 million to $33 million - unaffordable according to the NZ Transport Agency. But also unacceptable to the hundreds of placards bearers – cyclists, pedestrians, young and old who turned out to protest the closure at the underpass last weekend.

'Don't take our tunnel,” demanded one protestor, 'too young to die” said another, and 'hands off”.

Emotions ran high.

The protestors would be amongst some who Mayor Greg Brownless would later say construed NZTA's reluctance to engage on the issue to be 'arrogant and uncaring.” And the Mayor fired off a pointed note to the NZTA.

'It is extremely disappointing that congestion on the two-lane fly over is expected to become a significant issue in just 8.5 years.” Given the $120-plus million price tag of the B2B, he believed a better, longer term solution should be achievable.

'Secondly, the NZTA should be aware there is a groundswell of community concern about the decision not to proceed with the planned underpass link.” And he suggested the NZTA decision was at variance with the NZTA's obligations under the Government Policy Statement for Transport – especially the key priorities of safety and access.

Then midweek Phil Twyford had a word in the ear of the NZTA asking it to meet with local community representatives and to consult with them as it looked at other options.

The NZTA was intransigent, at least on the underpass issue, although it tried to defuse the ill-feeling saying it was committed to finding an appropriate, safe solution for pedestrians and cyclists negotiating SH2 at Bayfair. 'The current link project will provide a safe, signalised crossing for pedestrians and cyclists through a new Bayfair roundabout,” according to the NZTA's Ross l'Anson.

SH2 traffic, especially trucks would be diverted from the roundabout over the flyover so the roads and crossings below would be safer for cyclists and pedestrians. And, in line with Phil Twyford's request, he promised to keep the conversation open, and to consider other options including an over bridge north of Concord.

Tauranga's underpass uproar resonated all around Wellington too. 'I will be meeting next week with the NZTA next week to discuss this project,” says the Government's Tauranga MP, Jan Tinetti. And while the NZTA made decisions at arm's length from the Government, Jan vowed to continue advocating for the best options for Tauranga.

The people have spoken – they want an underpass beneath SH2 or a flash bridge over SH2. Nothing else is negotiable.