One of New Zealand's most high-risk intersections is set to get a major makeover, boosting safety for drivers, cyclists and pedestrians.
The NZ Transport Agency has awarded a $7.3 million contract to Fulton Hogan to build a roundabout at the intersection of State Highway 30 (SH30) and State Highway 5 (SH5) Hemo Road in Rotorua.
Preliminary work will start in early April. The roundabout is expected to be complete in mid-2017.
The Transport Agency's acting Bay of Plenty highways manager Chris Young said the roundabout would replace a T-intersection that was ranked as the fourth riskiest in the country due to the high crash rate.
Around 15,000 vehicles travel through the intersection every day, including 1500 trucks and commercial vehicles.