Construction of a $17 million project to improve a section of State Highway 30/Te Ngae Road in Rotorua will start next month.

The NZ Transport Agency said work will begin work on the Eastern Corridor Stage 1 on 18 February 2020.

The project is part of the $24 million programme, Connect Rotorua, to transform Rotorua‘s central and eastern corridors in partnership with Rotorua Lakes Council.

NZTA acting director regional relationships Ross I‘Anson says the project is an exciting milestone for Rotorua and is key to helping support the district‘s growth.

“Stage 1 of the Eastern Corridor project will improve safety and access and increase opportunities for cycling and other modes of transport on State Highway 30/Te Ngae Road, from Sala Street to Iles Road.

“Once complete, we expect travelling through this section of SH30 will be safer, and more accessible for local people and visitors alike.”

Mayor of Rotorua Steve Chadwick said improving the eastern roading corridor is crucial for Rotorua, and that after a number of years of hard work alongside the NZTA, it was very pleasing that construction of the stage from Sala Street to Iles Road was about to get under way.

The project will involve the upgrade of the Tarawera roundabout to a signalised intersection, operated by traffic lights, as well as improvements to the SH30/Sala Street intersection.

It also includes four-laning a section of the highway between Allen Mills and Iles roads, 3.5km of new shared paths, undergrounding the overhead power lines, and installing new water mains on behalf of the council.

Construction will start 18 February and will be completed in stages – with final completion expected in late 2021.

The first section of work will involve installing new water mains along both sides of the corridor and creating a new access to the rugby club at the Sala Street intersection.

Delays to people‘s journeys during the first stage are expected to be minor.

The Eastern Corridor Stage 2 looks at the section of SH30 from Iles Road to Rotorua Airport. The NZTA will revisit the Stage 2 project in early 2020 with the aim of completing the detailed business case.