BUSY, DANGEROUS TRAIL

Walkers frequently catch the bus at Bulls missing out Feilding altogether. None the less local feedback indicates that hundreds of pedestrians and cyclists do take the risk and use this road – but not so much during the winter months.

This stretch of road from Feilding bridge to beyond Bunnythorpe is part of the Te Araroa trail from Cape Reinga to Bluff attracting large numbers of tourists who want to walk the length of New Zealand. It is also the service road for our local population wanting to walk/cycle between Palmerston North and Feilding.

This part of the trail is on a very dangerous, busy road, which carries large volumes of stock trucks, heavy double-trailer commercial vehicles, buses, small cars, impatient fast cars trying to overtake mixed in with cyclists and pedestrians.

Part of the delay for the past 10 years may have been because the main east/west arterial route has never been finalised and the way things are progressing it could be another 10 years before any final decision is made. It has been stated by Rob Wakelin, CEO of Te Araroa trail, that the Bulls to Palmerston North section is the most dangerous part of the route in the North Island.

Of course something can be done about this road with cooperation with local councils and landowners.

The controversial figure is $1.15m, which would keep many people safe from the effects of heavy commercial traffic.

Gillian Absolon, Member of Te Araroa Manawatu Trust