The Bharatmala and Sagarmala four-lane national highway projects will benefit Kakinada district and Kakinada Smart City by linking the Annavaram National Highway to the Uppalanka area via Vakalapudi and Suryaraopeta roads. Improved connectivity is expected to ease travel between Visakhapatnam, Yanam and Amalapuram and relieve congestion. The work aims to streamline freight and passenger movement to and from the deep water port.

A greenfield four-lane road will run from the Anchorage Port north gate to the Uppalanka area within rural limits, allowing heavy vehicles to be diverted away from inner city routes. The alignment includes a five-kilometre stretch toward Jagannaickpur Salt Creek and Yetimoga that is projected to reduce journey times by more than thirty minutes. The corridor will improve access for exporters and lower logistics costs.

The third bridge over the Jagannaickpur Upputeru has been under consideration since a foundation stone was laid in November 2018 and the bridge project includes a bypass linking National Highway 216 to the port at an estimated cost of Rs 1.2 bn to Rs 1.46 bn. Major exports from the port include rice, wheat, sugar and other food grains, while imports and exports also involve urea, potash, phosphorus, granite and iron ore. The district hosts Coromandel Fertilisers and several oil refineries, generating significant heavy vehicle movement.

The Roads and Buildings department (R&B), the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) and district authorities have proposed two bypass roads, one on the west side running from Uppalanka to Kovvada via Cheediga, Madhavapatnam and Thimmapuram, of which about 80 per cent is complete. An eastern bypass via Vakalapudi ADB Road to Valasapakala was cancelled due to land acquisition and its alignment has been merged into the Sagarmala project. Kakinada district Joint Collector Apoorva Bharat has asked the revenue and survey departments to begin land equalisation and officials are evaluating three options for the greenfield highway, which would shorten a 22 km route to five kilometres if implemented.