Drivers fed up with the temporary painted roundabout at Ballantyne and Golf Course roads will finally see a permanent fix, with construction of a new roundabout planned for summer 2026/27.

The stop-gap circle was painted on the intersection in March 2024 to ease congestion during nearby roadworks, but ended up lasting much longer than initially planned. 

Now, Queenstown Lakes District Council (QLDC) says a full rebuild is on the way.

“I believe there has been a call to change that roundabout for a long time,” a QLDC staff member told the Wānaka Upper Clutha Community Board (WUCCB) at Thursday’s (February 12) meeting.

The new, raised roundabout will be peanut-shaped, and designed to improve safety and traffic flow while dealing with the awkward geometry of the intersection. 

It will also be built to accommodate a future fourth road linking to Three Parks, effectively turning it into a four-way roundabout.

Concept designs for the new roundabout. IMAGE: QLDC

Because the roads don’t meet at 90 degrees, the design means some compromises, and the new roundabout won’t suit every vehicle. 

QLDC staff said some of the largest trucks would be advised to use alternative routes. 

A safety audit and temporary traffic management assessment are currently underway for the new roundabout.

The design is expected to be finalised before it goes out to tender in the second quarter of 2026. 

Construction should begin this summer.

WUCCB chair Simon Telfer told staff it was “great to see progress” on the temporary roundabout’s replacement.