A Te Maunga resident says he has to travel an extra 40 kilometres a week because of roadworks outside his home.
Roy Steele was among residents who met Tauranga Eastern Link representatives at a community meeting last night. He said their homes had been made inaccessible from State Highway 2 in efforts to pave the way for the expressway.
The last straw came after the New Zealand Transport Agency decided not to complete a slip road that would have offered residents direct access to State Highway 2 but now they are left to navigate the residential back roads of Te Maunga.
"It's pretty rough going," Mr Steele said. "They had planned on having only the slip road ... that's not happening."
In order for Mr Steele to get to Tauranga, he travels to Papamoa's Domain Rd roundabout. To get home from Greerton, he travels over the Tauranga Harbour Bridge. Both journeys added another 20 minutes of commuting time for what should be simple trips, he said.