Martin said the driver of the car that hit the man was clearly upset and shaken. She was treated for shock.
Martin said it was the first time he had heard of anyone trying to cross that part of the four-lane highway, which has a median barrier separating cars travelling in opposite directions.
"It's not an easy crossing," he said.
Police were waiting for the serious crash unit to arrive.
Martin said police would like to speak to anyone who saw a man matching the victim's description in the area or trying to cross the road about 11am.
The southbound lanes of the Tauranga Eastern Link are closed from Sandhurst Drive to Domain Rd and traffic was being diverted through Papamoa.
11:31am: A man is in a critical condition after being hit by a car in Papamoa.
Police were called to Bruce Rd about 11am after a car hit a pedestrian on the Tauranga Eastern Link near the Bruce Rd off-ramp.
A St John spokeswoman said the person was taken by ambulance to Tauranga Hospital in a critical condition.
Traffic heading east is being diverted off the Tauranga Eastern Link at Sandhurst Dr through Papamoa towards the domain.
A reporter at the scene said traffic on State Highway 2 was crawling about 1km back from the Sandhurst Dr off-ramp.
Earlier: Reports are coming in of person being hit by a car on the Tauranga Eastern Link.
A police spokeswoman said a pedestrian had been injured on State Highway 2 near Bruce Rd.
The person was breathing and conscious, she said.
Papamoa bound traffic is being diverted off the highway at Sandhurst Drive.
More to come.
