SH2 Bay Park to Bayfair Link – To improve safety and traffic flow by separating local traffic from the state highway and rail corridor, provide safer walking and cycling connections, and complete the State Highway 2 Eastern Corridor for the Bay of Plenty.  After several years, construction is now complete. 

Pyes Pa bypass has removed through traffic from Tauranga’s residential end of State Highway 36 (Pyes Pa Road) and now provides more efficient access between the highway and downtown Tauranga via the Takitimu Drive toll road. The bypass cuts through the Lakes development from the crematorium.

Tauranga Eastern Link (TEL) – this newly constructed, 23 kilometre, four lane highway is an integral part of access from eastern parts of the city and forms a ‘robust’ transport network to support growth. It is funded from tolls on the Domain Road to Paengaroa section of the highway.  This project is now complete, saving 10 – 12 minutes minimum from Paengaroa to Tauranga City.

Bethlehem Township improvements – new roundabouts at the southern and northern ends of the shopping area, and some widening of the road, have been completed, improving safety, reducing congestion and improving the urban environment through the township. 

State Highway 2, Te Puna - upgrade of intersection at Te Puna has been completed.  This has seen a new roundabout improving safety at the intersection with Te Puna and Minden Roads and State Highway 2.

 The following are a summary of projects under construction/development:

1. Omokoroa/State Highway 2 Intersection – the intersection needs to be upgraded to meet the demands of the peninsula’s growth.  A full interchange is planned for the future, however a new interim roundabout is to be constructed (consented in July 2022) and is to be in use for at least 10 years. Preliminary work has begun.
2. Takitimu North Link (TNL) Tauranga to Omokoroa – Stage One is underway, a four lane expressway between Takitimu Drive near Fifteenth Avenue, and Te Puna, including a new bridge over Wairoa River and a full interchange at Minden.  Stage One will provide an alternative route between Tauranga City and Te Puna and is expected to be completed in 2028, while Stage Two will continue from Te Puna to Omokoroa and is expected to begin in late 2024.
3. Papamoa East Interchange - To unlock development at Pāpāmoa East and allow further growth at Golden Sands and Wairākei, a new full interchange will be constructed at the eastern end of Te Okuroa Drive, to provide access to the motorway. This interchange will enable faster car travel between neighbourhoods in Pāpāmoa East and Tauranga city centre, Mount Maunganui and Te Puke. It will also provide a connection to the Rangiuru Business Park once that is operational.  The intersection will be constructed across the Tauranga Eastern Link Toll Road (SH2), east of the Wairākei neighbourhood, linking Te Okuroa Drive and future The Sands Avenue.  Stage 1 and Stage 2 of the 3-stage process have been completed, including new local roading, cycleways, footpaths and utilities.  The final stage, construction of the Interchange, as well as the section of The Sands Avenue leading north to the intersection with Te Okuroa Drive, is now underway.  This is expected to be completed in mid-2026.  On- and off-ramps will allow traffic to go both east on State Highway 2 towards Whakatāne, and west to Mount Maunganui and Tauranga CBD.  
4. Hairini Link - aims to reduce congestion by increasing traffic capacity along Hairini/Turret Road and Fifteenth Avenue and to improve safety including better walkways and cycleways. The project’s first stage has been improving the Fifteenth Avenue/Fraser Street intersection, which was upgraded early 2011.  Future stages could include an additional bridge between Hairini Causeway and Turret Road, extra lanes for high occupancy vehicles and buses along Turret Road and Fifteenth Avenue.  The underground link between Welcome Bay Road has now been completed.
5. Tauriko Network Plan – is part of the “Tauriko for Tomorrow” project with a focus on development of Tauriko West and its connection with the city.  SH29/29A will be realigned and widened to form a mostly four lane highway between Omanawa in the south and Cameron Road in the north.  Intersections at several points along the route will be improved.  This work is in the planning phase.
6. Katikati Bypass – will reduce congestion and heavy vehicle traffic through the main street.  This proposal no longer meets the threshold for NZTA funding and has been put on hold.

Waka Kotahi has several projects underway on State Highway 2 between Waihī and Tauranga to make this corridor safer and more efficient. These projects include road widening, upgrading 4 intersections with roundabouts, intalling roadside safety barriers and median barriers,