The first phase in a $102million roading project to reshape a stretch of State Highway 2 between Bayfair and Baypark is underway, with $5.4m approved for initial designs.

The New Zealand Transport Agency confirms today that the money is being allocated to begin a design phase expected to take up to a year.

How the new Maunganui Road/Girven Road intersection could look. Photo: NZTA.

The funding allocation is an important milestone in the project that will see two flyovers built on SH2; one will take SH2 over the Maunganui-Girven intersection and the second will take State Highway 29 (SH29) over the railway line and the Te Maunga intersection.

The project will allow direct access from SH29 to Baypark and Truman Lane and will see the East Coast Main Trunk railway line relocated behind Owens Place.

A shared pedestrian and cycle path from Owens Place to Baypark is also proposed as part of the plan.

NZTA Bay of Plenty highway manager Niclas Johansson says once complete, the project will reduce congestion, increase safety for motorists and cyclists, and improve the route to the Port of Tauranga.

'It's great news that the Transport Agency's board have approved the initial design funding,” says Niclas.

NZTA has issued a tender calling for initial designs to support the project as it moves forward.

The tender closes on December 16, with an evaluation period to follow. The contract will be awarded in March 2015.

Niclas adds: 'The initial design contract provides an opportunity to create the concept design and work alongside the Transport Agency as its principal agent and monitor the construction phase of the Bayfair to Baypark link.”

Subject to funding approvals, construction of the Bayfair to Baypark link is expected to start in early 2017.

The project, currently the number one 2014 project for national funding, looks to maximise the efficiency of the Tauranga Eastern Link in the near future.

NZTA says at peak times the Maunganui-Girven intersection creates a 'choke point”, causing delays on SH2. It also impacts the traffic flow at Te Maunga roundabout.

NZTA believe congestion will only get worse with forecasted traffic volumes expected to grow from 36,000 to nearly 60,000 in 20 years.

Between 2007 and 2012 there were 29 crashes. Three resulted in fatalities and five with serious injuries in the area.

Regular updates on the project, along with animated flyover and drive-through videos that showed what the link will look like can be found at: www.nzta.govt.nz/b2b

The current intersection.

What will the solution provide:

-a flyover will take SH2 over the Maunganui-Girven intersection

-a flyover will take SH29 over the railway line and the Te Maunga intersection

-direct access from SH29 to Baypark and Truman Lane

-the railway line will be relocated to behind Owens Place

-a shared pedestrian and cycleway will be built from Owens Place to Baypark

Benefits:

-reduced congestion on Maunganui Road, Girven Road and the Te Maunga roundabout

-improved safety for pedestrians, cyclists and motorists

-improved route to the Port of Tauranga

-separate local and state highway traffic