Construction of a roundabout at the intersection of Fenton St and Devon St is about to begin in a bid to reduce the number of crashes.
The cost is being shared between the Rotorua District Council and the New Zealand Transport Agency.
Rotorua District Council works manager Peter Dine said the roundabout was part of the council's overall programme to address safety on roads, which also included education campaigns and enforcement by police.
"The general issue of safety remains the key priority of residents in all our community surveys and this project is another contribution we can make to improving people's safety on our roads," he said. "Roundabouts are a proven mechanism for improving the ongoing problem of speed in streets, and reducing the number of crashes at intersections."
Mr Dine said Fenton St had a high crash rate.
He said the overall plan for Fenton St would also see roundabouts installed at the intersections with Marguerita St and Robertson St.
Gaps in the median strip which are used for u-turns will also be closed and there will be improved pedestrian and cycling facilities, but those improvements are not immediate.
Mr Dine said motorists should expect only minor delays.
"Completion of the roundabout should take approximately a month, subject to weather conditions."