Project to replace gorge road reaches milestone
The process for securing the land needed to create the Manawatu¯ Gorge replacement route has begun.
The New Zealand Transport Agency has lodged a notice of requirement with Manawatu¯ District, Palmerston North City and Tararua District councils to designate the route for Te Ahu A Turanga: Manawatu¯ Tararua highway.
The significance of the milestone and updates on the project will be explained at a series of public meetings starting on Tuesday.
Project manager Lonnie Dalzell said work was progressing to provide a safe, resilient and efficient replacement for State Highway 3 through the gorge.
The road was closed indefinitely in July 2017 after a series of slips that continued after the agency decided it was too unstable to allow remedial work to continue.
‘‘We will be presenting a new animated video flyover, new maps and . . . information on the notice of requirement, which was lodged [yesterday] with local councils,’’ Dalzell said.
The notice is a critical step toward gaining resource management approvals for the new road through the Ruahine Range.
The designation would identify the land corridor where the proposed road would be built, and provide a frameworkfor the project.
It would provide certainty for the community and affected landowners about the location and nature of the works.
People would be able to lodge submissions with the councils and a public hearing would be held.
The designation process would be followed by applications for resource consents from Horizons Regional Council for the earthworks, discharges and work in streams and rivers.
‘‘We encourage the community to attend as it is will give people a chance to ask any questions about what is being proposed as part of the designation for the new road,’’ Dalzell said.
The Ashhurst meeting would also feature the latest plans to deal with traffic noise and safety problems in Ashhurst, where highway traffic continues to pass through to reach Saddle Rd.
All sessions will run from 4pm to 7.30pm on Tuesday November 6 at the Palmerston North Conference and Function Centre, November 7 at the Dannevirke Sports Centre, November 8 at the Woodville Supper Room, November 13 at the Feilding Civic Centre, November 14 at the Pahı¯atua Town Hall, and November 15 at the Ashhurst Village Valley Hall.