The middle section of Long Mile Road is currently being upgraded as part of the Whakarewarewa Forest development.

This stage of the upgrade includes progressing the 3m wide shared path down Long Mile Road to provide a safe and user-friendly pathway for pedestrians, runners, cyclists and other wheeled devices, formalising car parks around Scion's Tree Archive/the dog walking park, beginning work to improve drainage in the area, and landscaping.

The gravel parking lot near the entrance to Scion's Tree Archive/the dog walking park will be closed to vehicles from now on and 41 new formalised car parks will be created along the fence line in this area. Pedestrian access to the park will remain as it currently is, says a statement from the Rotorua Lakes Council.

"Traffic management is in place while this work is underway and we appreciate everyone's patience during this time."

The Whakarewarewa Forest development is a collaborative project between Ministry of Business, Innovation, and Employment, Ngāti Whakaue, Tūhourangi Ngāti Wāhiao, CNI Iwi Holdings, and Rotorua Lakes Council.

"Council is managing an investment of $14.5 million to enhance the forest amenity and improve the experience for all users. Council allocated $7.5 million to the project in its 2018 – 2028 Long-term Plan with $7 million to be contributed by Central Government from its Provincial Growth Fund to enable the project to be completed over the next three years.

"The project includes the Long Mile Road upgrade, the construction of a new Visitor Centre at the Redwoods and a new forest hub on Tarawera Road."

To keep up to date with progress at Long Mile Road and other forest developments visit rotorualakescouncil.nz/forestdevelopment.