It has been designed to streamline delivery of produce to the region's main processing hub in Whakatu, and then on to main export links heading out of the district.
By encouraging heavy vehicles not to use the residential streets in Whakatu, it will also contribute to safety and quality of life in that area.
The construction plan for the roundabout has been carefully co ordinated to ensure as little disruption to traffic as possible, said Hastings District Council works and services committee chairman Kevin Watkins.
"We want it to go as well as the installation of the Mangateretere roundabout between Hastings and Clive," Watkins said.
"Of course there is always some disruption, but by building the sections that are not in the current roadway first we can make very good progress and then shift the traffic towards the end of the installation."
That the NZ Transport Agency is building a roundabout on the expressway at the same time does make things a little more difficult, Watkins said.
"It means we must ensure that both our organisations' constructions go as smoothly and efficiently as possible."
NZTA system manager Wayne Oldfield says the agency's project, which involves realigning the Links Rd and Pakowhai Rd approaches to a new roundabout on State Highway 50, as well as upgrading 1.38km of the expressway, is well underway and will be completed ahead of the Whakatu project.
"By constructing the two projects in parallel we are able to reduce the longer-term disruption to the customer."
Planning for the western end of the Whakatu Link project has been intricate, given the popularity of the dog park and that there are 2000 daffodil bulbs near the entrance that are being lifted and then replanted once the roundabout is completed.
The bulbs were planted at the time of the new millennium and marked with a plaque.
The council has been in discussions with the committee behind the planting; keeping the members abreast of the plans.
