Holidaymakers travelling between Coromandel, Auckland and the Bay of Plenty will be amongst the first to use a $3.5million roundabout completed this month.

The NZ Transport Agency says the roundabout, which replaces the T-intersection where State Highway 25 meets State Highway 2, will help improve safety.

The NZTA has completed a $3.5 million dollar roundabout this month to replace the T-intersection where State Highways 25 and 2 meet. Image: NZTA

NZTA Waikato journey manager Liam Ryan says the new roundabout will create a safer way to move traffic.

'More than 24,000 vehicles a day pass through this site each day during peak holiday times,” says Liam. 'In the past people coming from the Coromandel on SH25 and then onto SH2 to Auckland had a difficult time safely turning right.”

'This roundabout significantly improves that tough turn and allows traffic to pass through safely, reducing the crash risk.”

Over the last decade 37 crashes have been recorded by police at the SH2/25 intersection.

Two people have died, five people were seriously injured, while 12 people suffered minor injuries during that time.

Liam says while the roundabout will improve safety and also help with congestion, people should still plan ahead for delays during peak times.

People travelling on SH2 to Auckland may experience delays during peak times, especially after Christmas and New Year's Eve, when people are returning home from their holidays, he says.

'In the past they were given a free run, but northbound SH2 traffic will give way to traffic coming from SH25 as they pass through the roundabout.

'People travelling on SH25 from the Coromandel will notice a real difference as they will safely be able to get onto SH2 without waiting in the heat for a gap in traffic.”

The NZTA has released maps providing a nationwide snapshot of highway traffic routes, dates and times where traffic congestion is expected to be particularly heavy during the holiday period.

Liam says these maps will help motorists plan ahead and avoid travelling during the times congestion is predicted to be heaviest.

'My advice is to plan to avoid peak traffic where you can and give yourself enough time to take plenty of rest or sightseeing breaks along the way.

'It's your holiday after all, so why not make the journey an enjoyable part of it with stops along the way – you can't beat an ice-cream from a dairy on a hot day.”

For real time information on highway conditions and incidents either call 0800 4 HIGHWAYS, follow the NZTA Waikato/BOP twitter feed @nztawaibop or visit www.nzta.govt.nz

For personalised information about driving conditions on their frequently used routes, motorists can check out and sign up to On The Move at www.onthemove.govt.nz

The original T-intersection where State Highways 25 and 2 meet. Photo: File