What is rumoured to be the most over grown, forested and generally treed roundabout in the country's state highway network will be changing its look.

The change next week is in preparation for the start of earthworks on the Maungatapu roundabout.

The forested Maungatapu roundabout.

Other roundabouts have a tree or two near the middle. Some have low lying shrubs, or grass, and many are concrete. The Maungatapu roundabout has Mirkwood.

You cannot take a shortcut across the Maungatapu roundabout, or do donuts on the centre – because it is covered in dense bush. The forest hasn't just been left to its own devices, it's a deliberate action. Every now and then contractors have been glimpsed thinning out some of the nearly impenetrable undergrowth.

The New Zealand Transport Agency was unable to say if there are any other forested roundabouts on the state highway network.

The dark forest is expected to be gone from next week, cleared as part of the preliminary works for the Welcome Bay underpass project.

Earthworks begin next month, following the official sod turning ceremony, which is also expected to be scheduled next week, says the NZTA.

Meanwhile, six of the eight the houses from Hammond Street are gone. Two will be kept until later in the project for use as site offices.

'A 50km/h speed restriction, diversions and lane closures will be in place at Maungatapu while contractors clear vegetation and carry out other work in preparation for the construction of the Maungatapu underpass.

'The work will happen weekdays between 9am and 4pm to minimise disruption to traffic, says the NZ Transport Agency.”

For real time information on highway conditions and incidents or to report issues on the network visit www.nzta.govt.nz call 0800 4 HIGHWAYS or follow @nztawaibop on twitter.