The project to realign a section of State Highway 33, between Paengaroa and Rotorua, is now more visible to motorists as the work has continued over winter.
The focus of the Sun Valley Curves project, near Pareteiro, is to remove a series of tight curves and improve the safety. The New Zealand Transport Agency highways manager Brett Gliddon said as the project progressed it was having more of an impact on motorists.
Drivers should expect minor delays with temporary speeds and traffic management in place, especially over the unsealed sections of the existing highway, where a new road surface is being built.
"The Transport Agency is removing the common cause of crashes in this area which has resulted in drivers losing control and coming off the road or crossing the centre line. Once finished, the road will be a more direct and safer for drivers.''
Construction is being carried out on two separate sites. Work at the northern end, near Paengaroa requires building a large mechanically stabilised earth wall, which is taking shape and will support the new road alignment.