The new Paengaroa roundabout is taking shape at what will be the eastern end of the of the Tauranga Eastern Link project.

What now looks like piles of dirt will be a life-saving road safety measure, says the NZ Transport Agency's highways manager, Brett Gliddon.

The new roundabout at Paengaroa takes shape.

The current State Highway 2 and State Highway 33 intersection is a renowned crash spot, with most accidents caused by drivers failing to stop and check the intersection is clear.

The Paengaroa roundabout has been designed to reduce that risk and drivers will be able to enjoy the safety benefits first-hand when it opens next year.

'We know this intersection has a poor crash history, it was confirmed as one of the most dangerous intersections in the Bay earlier this year,” says Brett.

'This safety overhaul will help to prevent death and serious injury, and the public will be very pleased to see work well underway to make their journeys safer.”

At 58metres in diameter the roundabout marks a big step towards addressing safety concerns at the busy intersection. With two lanes of traffic in all directions and a proposed permanent speed limit of 80km/h, the new Paengaroa roundabout adheres to the NZTA's commitment to reducing deaths and serious injuries on our roads.

'We're aiming to reduce deaths and serious injuries on our roads we know that roundabouts force drivers to slow down and have shown to reduce the number of crashes at intersections,” says Brett.

One of the overwhelming advantages of the 23km of new road is the fact that it addresses the poor crash history along the entire TEL route from Te Maunga to Paengaroa, says Brett.

'While engineering can improve the safety of intersections, everyone needs to share responsibility for road safety, and we simply can't underestimate the role that safer driver behaviour, safer speeds and safer vehicles play in reducing the terrible cost of road trauma.”

The new roundabout will open in autumn next year. The new highway from Te Maunga to Paengaroa is expected to open to traffic in late 2015.