But this major project, which would bypass Bethlehem, is not yet part of the agency's 10-year plan.
When Route K was planned, a proposal to build an on-ramp from 15th Ave was rejected as it was felt the extra cost would have made the project uneconomic.
However it may have contributed to the road's failure by creating an inaccessible expressway that deters users.
And Tauranga City Council's plan to transfer Route K to the Crown and shed the liability is not looking like it will happen any time soon.
To some it may seem the toll road may be forever doomed.
Something needs to be done to encourage drivers to use this road.
While an increase in users paying the $1 toll, or the proposed $1.50 it is set to increase to, will not make a huge dent in the road's $60 million debt it will help make it more financially stable.
It seems incredulous that drivers would not choose this route to the city centre when it shaves a good 10 minutes off driving time and bypasses myriad sets of traffic lights, pedestrian crossings and roundabouts.
Some city dwellers even favour this option for simply travelling to Greerton.
The recently opened Pyes Pa bypass is also a bonus for those coming from the city and heading to Rotorua - eliminating a busy roundabout and again saving more time.
This road needs the tolls to double to make it cash positive.
If transferring ownership and planned new on-ramps are unlikely the city's leaders need to come up with viable solutions.
It may be central Government elections in nine days but local body candidates will be fighting for their jobs again before we know it.
