The sod was turned at a special ceremony yesterday afternoon to welcome the start of the Whakatu Arterial Link.
Local MPs, councillors, representatives of NZTA, members of Ngati Kahungunu iwi and the Napier and Hastings mayors, gathered to celebrate the road that would transform connections around the key business and employment area of Whakatu.
The project will provide a road between Havelock North, State Highway 2 north, Pakowhai Rd, the Expressway and the Port of Napier.
A council spokeswoman said it would include 3.5km of greenfield construction, 1km of connections to side roads, three large roundabouts and a 47m long bridge over Karamu Stream.
Hastings mayor Lawrence Yule said this was a significant regional project that had been sitting in the pipeline for five years.