Tauranga MP Simon Bridges takes roading petition to the street

Simon Bridges (centre) speaks to Ron Thomas while collecting signatures in Red Square. Photo / George Novak

Simon Bridges spent an hour pounding the pavements in Tauranga's CBD yesterday.

The Tauranga MP was collecting signatures for his petition to ask the Government to improve roads linking Tauranga to Katikati and Hamilton.

He said the projects were crucial to Tauranga's future - a view supported yesterday by Priority One chief executive Nigel Tutt.

Bridges said he and his team collected about 100 signatures to add to the 3000 or so already collected, but he hoped to get the total over 10,000 before submitting the petition to Parliament.