Meanwhile, major works also planned for SH29, which traverses the Kaimai Range, were expected to cut 23 minutes' travelling time when travelling between Tauranga and South Auckland and prevent 36 deaths and serious injuries over the same period.
Across the Bay of Plenty region, more than $240 million would be spent on maintenance and operations, $45 million on public transport, $9 million on cycle and walkways and more than $124 million spent targeting safety.
The NZ Transport Agency's acting Waikato Bay of Plenty regional director Robert Brodnax said improving safety on roads in the Bay of Plenty would continue to be a major focus.
"High-risk intersections will be a major focus over the next three years.
"We will also continue working to improve safety and provide more reliable travel times between Pokeno and Tauranga via Waihi, and SH29 on the Kaimai Range.
"Off the back of our investments in the soon-to-be-opened Tauranga Eastern Link, our focus for the next three years in the Bay of Plenty will be on building a safe and efficient transport network to enable local growth, enable easy access for rural goods to markets and people to city-based services."
Mr Bridges said the Government had spent a lot on transport in the Western Bay.
"Arguably the highest per capita in New Zealand, we are sitting on the best roads in New Zealand in our city with the strong spending continuing with the $591 million.
"Focus now has to move to the linkages to the other big centres in the so-called golden triangle."
There would be more fiscal activity in the local economy if more improvements were made to the SH2 and SH29 roading, he said.
Mrs Nees said the programmes funded in the National Road Transport Plan would support expected growth in urban areas in the Western Bay, while ensuring efficient access to the Port of Tauranga from Auckland, Waikato and the rest of the region.
Tauranga mayor Stuart Crosby said the money promised was a good investment.
Bay roads were also used by heavy transport which improved the local economy so improving safety and travel time was a bonus.
"If you have better, safer roads the other benefit is you get higher productivity from heavy transport because they use less fuel from getting from A to B and it does add up and is quite significant."
Western Bay of Plenty Mayor Ross Paterson said the council had been working with NZTA and was happy roading in the Bay had been prioritised.
He noted the number of fatalities on SH2.
"The work they are proposing to do the north of Tauranga should help us to curve or reduce some of those facilities we have had."
Mr Paterson hoped some of the money promised to the region would be used to improve the safety of the Omokoroa/SH2 intersection as well.
Julie Bourke, Heaven and Home shop owner in Te Puna, said she was pleased money would be spent on the Te Puna/Minden roundabout.
"Not only for the business here but for safety too, that's a shocking intersection. If you are coming from the shops and turning right towards Katikati any time after 4pm you are putting your life in your hands. "
Factbox
The NZ Transport Agency has announced a $591 million transport package designed to grow industry and jobs, improve safety, and support economic development and population growth in the Bay of Plenty.
An estimated $255 million will target continued economic productivity and growth, advancing key projects such as the Baypark to Bayfair upgrade and Hairini underpass.
The public transport system will receive $45 million, with an additional $8.5 million to provide school buses for children in Tauranga, while projects designed to get more people walking and cycling, such as the Omokoroa to Tauranga cycleway, will receive a portion of funding totalling $9 million.
