An upgrade to a key Hawke's Bay road is expected to bolster the region.  

The Hawke's Bay Expressway, which carries 29,000 vehicles a day, is being widened from two lanes to four.  

The Government says starting work on the Road of National Significance early will bring construction forward 12-to-15 months.  

Employers and Manufacturers Association Head of Advocacy Alan McDonald told Ryan Bridge it'll massively improve access.  

He says the Road of National Significance programme is designed to make better connections between the economic hubs of the country. 

LISTEN ABOVE