Pāpāmoa East Interchange opens next month after 20-month construction sprint
The newly completed Pāpāmoa East Interchange is set to open at the end of March, following 20 months of construction. The $98 million project includes an overbridge, new ramps, and improved connections to State Highway 2 and The Sands Avenue. Residents and commuters are already anticipating major time savings on their daily journeys. Work on the interchange began in July 2022, with the aim of easing traffic flow in a rapidly growing area. Pāpāmoa's population is projected to reach around 40,000 by 2043, making better transport links essential. The project also included upgrades to Three Waters infrastructure to support future development.
The interchange will provide faster routes between Pāpāmoa East, Tauranga city centre, Mount Maunganui, and other nearby destinations. Teachers at Golden Sands School have welcomed the change, with Liana Rosie and Melissa Burgess both expecting their daily commutes to drop by at least 15 minutes each way. A second toll point will soon be added on the Tauranga Eastern Link, between Domain Road and the new interchange. While existing toll rates—$2.30 for light vehicles and $5.60 for heavy vehicles—will stay the same for the full route, new charges for the additional section have yet to be confirmed. The toll road itself had sparked debate during construction, but the interchange is now ready for use after an official blessing on March 30.
The Pāpāmoa East Interchange will open to the public before April, offering quicker travel for thousands of commuters. The project addresses both current congestion and long-term growth in the area. Drivers using the Tauranga Eastern Link will soon face updated toll arrangements as the new section comes into operation.
