An open day to discuss options for the future of State Highway 30/Te Ngae Road will be held this Sunday 31October, from 10.00am to 3.00pm at Whakarewarewa Rugby Club, Puarenga Park, Te Ngae Road.
The NZ Transport Agency says the open day is a chance for people to have their say about its project to improve safety and trip efficiency along an important local road and freight route.
Rod James, the NZTA's Bay of Plenty State Highway Manager, says traffic modelling shows the number of vehicles will increase from the current level of 37,500 per day to 50,000 within seven years, impacting on safety and congestion along the route.
“Three options have emerged as potential solutions,” says Mr James. “They include upgrading the existing highway (Te Ngae Road), developing a new highway along the designated route closer to Lake Rotorua with two new intersections at Sala Street and the proposed Victoria Street Arterial, or using most of the designated route but upgrading Vaughan Road at the western end instead of continuing the highway over the sulphur flats.”
Rotorua District Council Mayor Kevin Winters says: “The Rotorua Eastern Arterial is an important project for both our district and our region. With the increasing volume of traffic, we need to find a way to improve safety for local residents and businesses as well as assist tourists and freight operators to move smoothly through the area.
Mr Winters says the project has the potential to help Rotorua in other ways.
“It could open up areas of land for development that are currently restricted by already congested Te Ngae Road and support lake water quality improvement projects.
“I urge people to get along to the open day, find out about the plans and make their point of view count,” Mr Winters says
More information is available online at: www.nzta.govt.nz(external link) or by calling the project team on 0508 REA PROJECT.
