An open day to discuss options for the future of State Highway 30/ Te Ngae Road will be held on Sunday, October 31 from 10am to 3pm at Whakarewarewa Rugby Club, Puarenga Park, Te Ngae Road.

The planned options for the Rotorua Eastern Arterial.

The New Zealand 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.

NZTA Bay of Plenty state highway manager Rod James 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 Rod.

'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 Mayor Kevin Winters says the project is critical for the region's development.

'The Rotorua Eastern Arterial is an important project for both our district and our region,” says Kevin.

'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.”

He says the project has the potential to help Rotorua in other ways also.

'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.”