Government pumps money into easing Ngongotahā roundabout congestion

The improvements will look to ease congestion at the Ngongotahā roundabout. Photo / File

A section of State Highway 5 between Tarukenga and Ngongotahā will undergo safety improvements as part of the Government's New Zealand Upgrade Programme.

Regional Economic Development Minister Shane Jones made a new round of regional funding announcements this morning including a new harbour for Ōpōtiki creating 1850 new jobs.

The programme will put $14 million into the Tarukenga to Ngongotaha project which aims to improve safety and reduce congestion at the SH5 and SH36 roundabout. The programme of work also includes standard safety improvements along 8.1km of SH5.

The latest investment was great news for the people of Bay of Plenty, local Labour MP Tamati Coffey said.

"It's great that this Government's investing in safety improvements along SH5, one of the Bay of Plenty's most important roads.

"Safety is our top transport priority, and these investments will mean a safer journey between Tarukenga and Ngongotahā, where too many people have been hurt in recent years," Coffey said.

Rotorua mayor Steve Chadwick said the announcement was great news.

"We've all been calling for improvements to this key intersection for some time now to alleviate congestion and I look forward to seeing the detail and timing for this project.

"Good roads are a key component of enabling housing development to progress and we are advocating for this as part of the work under way on solutions to address Rotorua's critical housing shortage."

The $12 billion New Zealand Upgrade Programme includes $6.8b on transport infrastructure for the six main growth areas in New Zealand, including the Bay of Plenty. The North Island investment is about $62m with seven projects selected from Northland, the Bay of Plenty, Hawke's Bay and Taranaki.

Other roading projects for the region include a four-lane Tauranga Northern Link and upgrades on SH2, and a new roundabout at the intersection of SH1 and SH29.