Realignment solution in sight for slip-prone road

A stretch of a stricken Horowhenua road is set to move to avoid constant closures caused by slips.

Horowhenua District Council is considering realigning a 1.2-kilometre stretch of Gladstone Rd.

Councillors authorised due diligence and negotiations for the purchase of a 29.5-hectare block of land in Gladstone Rd at the council’s meeting last week.

The road, east of Levin, has been plagued by landslips since 2012.

Acting council group manager of infrastructure services Rob Green said the road was used to access homes, forestry plantations and the Mahahika Outdoor Pursuits Centre, which is visited by about 100 children a week.

The new alignment would include two single-lane bridges and move the road to the opposite side of the O¯ mahu Stream.

Green said moving the road was the most logical step.

‘‘We need to do this because geotechnical advice shows there are likely to be further landslips on Gladstone Rd and there are few options for treating the land itself to reduce the risk.

‘‘Although residents have been able to use an emergency route into the area when the road has been closed, it is on private land.’’

Clearing and monitoring the slip has cost about $220,000 since January 2017, when the most recent large slip occurred.

Another major slip in August 2018 closed the road for a week.

Green said cost would be confirmed during the due diligence process. If the project qualifies for New Zealand Transport Agency funding, the council’s share of the cost would be about 20 per cent.