The New Zealand Transport Agency (NZTA) said it will call for tenders to construct a NZD2bn ($1.4bn) waterview connection in the country.

The road project will include a 4.5km-long link connecting the southwestern motorway (SH20) with the northwestern motorway (SH16), with two three-lane tunnels for 2.5km of the route.

Other parts of the project involve capacity improvements to SH16 from St Lukes to Westgate, according to the NZTA.

The SH20/SH16 connection and the section from Lincoln road to Westgate is expected to be operational from 2016.

The waterview connection project is expected to complete the western ring route; one of the government’s Seven Roads of National Significance projects around Auckland.