Sealing talk over long and winding road
Upgrading and sealing State Highway 43, or the Forgotten World Highway, in Taranaki is back on the agenda as a priority roading project.
The New Zealand Transport Agency wants to look more closely at resurfacing 12km of the remote rural highway between Stratford and Taumarunui.
The agency plans to ask today’s Taranaki Regional Council road transport committee meeting to add a business case to the regional road transport plan 2015-2021 and look into the cost and feasibility of sealing.
Road transport committee chairman Craig Williamson said the business case proposal was a result of the region’s councils doing ‘‘strong advocacy work’ over a long time.
The plan variation by NZTA meant the agency now considered the completion of the sealing as a priority, Williamson said.
The agency proposed $280,000 be set aside to fund a business case to examine costs, feasibility and time frames.
NZTA regional transport systems manager Ross I’Anson said the agency has had ongoing discussions on the sealing of SH43.
‘‘We will be investigating the options for sealing, based on the area’s economic growth and tourism.
‘‘In the meantime the agency will ensure that we continue to maintain the road to a safe and fitfor-purpose standard.’’
The regional transport plan estimated the construction cost, with sealing and safety features, at $16 million over five years.
The 150km highway is seen as an important tourism, forestry and transport link between the Central Plateau and Taranaki.
It was being used by more motorists, including tourists, making it necessary for the unsealed 12km stretch of road through Tangarakau Gorge to be improved.
A report in August concluded $7m spent on the upgrade safety on the highway would save millions of dollars in crashes, and boost tourism to the region.