The New Zealand (NZ) Transport Agency has announced that work on a $2.6m upgrade of Hamilton’s busiest roundabout will start next month.

As part of the project, the Hillcrest roundabout will be revamped to have three entry lanes for citybound State Highway 1 traffic and a slip lane for vehicles heading on to SH26 (Morrinsville Road).

Preliminary work onsite has already been started by Cambridge Construction with shifting underground services before construction begins in early September.

"The changes we are making will help it handle its load now and into the future as Hamilton’s population continues to grow."

NZ Transport Agency Waikato highways manager Kaye Clark said: "The upgrade will improve safety and help to ease congestion at the intersection.

"The Hillcrest roundabout is the city’s busiest with 37,000 vehicles using it every day.

"The changes we are making will help it handle its load now and into the future as Hamilton’s population continues to grow."

In order to minimise disruption during the project, the NZ Transport Agency will work closely with the contractor and the community.

Clark added: "This is a complex project at a busy intersection surrounded by homes, businesses and schools, and extensive traffic management will be required during the three-month construction.

"During peak times all lanes will be open and the focus will be on moving traffic through, however there will be speed restrictions and other traffic management in place outside of peak times and at night, which will cause delays.

"This project will make a difference and we are focused on doing everything we can to minimise delays but we are going to need everyone’s patience and understanding during construction."

Before initiating the process, the transport agency noted that it investigated all possible improvements for the intersection, including traffic lights.