The mural is a kowhaiwhai-inspired pattern referencing the history of the land the soon-to-be-completed underpass overlooks.
The Maungatapu underpass will open to traffic today.
Welcome Bay drivers were not expecting any travel time savings, but the New Zealand Transport Agency says those using the Maungatapu roundabout above should get through faster.
The agency did not specify what time the 120m underpass will open.
Construction on the $45 million two-lane pass from Welcome Bay to Turret Rd under State Highway 29A began nearly three years ago.
Tauranga MP and then-Transport Minister Simon Bridges turned the first sod on September 1, 2015.
"We are nearing project completion, however, the area remains a construction site."
He said there was still work to be done on some of the connecting roads.
The agency said that included work to turn the Hairini St slip lane into a bus-only lane. In the meantime there would be a temporary stop sign at the slip lane and signage to discourage drivers from using Hairini St as a shortcut, directing them instead to the roundabout.
Underpass opening: what you need to know
- Temporary 50km/h speed limit through underpass - New traffic lights at the Welcome Bay Rd and Welcome Bay Link Rd intersection - Temporary stop sign at Hairini St - People will be discouraged from using Hairini St as a shortcut - Access to Hammond St from SH29A will be closed, access from new Welcome Bay Rd intersection - Separate shared cycleway through the underpass will not open yet.
Source: NZTA
Bluetooth monitoring technology will be used to track the impact the underpass has on travel times.
Welcome Bay resident Melissa Reid was hoping it might shave a minute or two off her trips to and from Tauranga Primary School, which her daughter attended.
She expected morning CBD-bound traffic would bottleneck as usual when the lanes merged for the Turret Rd bridge, but people using the Maungatapu roundabout might have a smoother run.
Reid said she was concerned that making the underpass two lanes instead of three or four would quickly turn out to have been shortsighted.
Anna Larsen agreed the Turret Rd pinch point would limit any time savings for CBD commuters in the morning.
September 2015 - Construction begins November 2015 - Asbestos found on the site June 2016 - Pedestrian bridge lifted into place November 2016 - Public have their first walkthrough November 2017 - Excavation completed, pedestrian and cycle overbridge in use May 2018 - Artwork inside the underpass revealed May 2018 - Second community open day June 2018 - Underpass opens to traffic
