Accidents along the detour around the newly closed Desert Road could “paralyse” transport networks through the central North Island, according to Ruapehu District Mayor Weston Kirton.
State Highway 1 between Waiouru and Turangi is now closed for two months as up to 16km of the road is rebuilt and the deck of the Mangatoetoenui Bridge replaced.
The detour from north to south is via SH41, SH47, SH4, SH49 and then back to SH1 in Waiouru, and it adds 30 to 40 minutes to the journey.
Mayor Kirton said the narrow lanes and limited passing opportunities along the route could pose risks if drivers became frustrated.
“If you have a huge volume of traffic going through a network of roading that is not up to the same specifications as State Highway 1 then you’re going to have a few incidents,” he told Radio New Zealand.
“I’m conscious of the fact that if you have a major accident there is no alternative route. If we’re now getting down to only State Highway 4 as an alternative then what other options have you got if there is an incident?
“We’ve got to have the infrastructure up and running as well. You’ve got to have the emergency services, breakdowns [assistance] and the policing … making sure the road management’s up to spec,” Kirton said.
NZTA said the speed limit near and through Ohakune would be reduced to 50km/h while the detour was in place and there would be additional billboards, signage and police patrols along the route.
Meanwhile, Transporting NZ has said it will hold NZTA to account if the work on the Desert Rd took substantially longer than the estimated two month timeframe.
Chief executive Dom Kalasih said the closure was agreed upon on the basis of “short term pain for long term gain”.
“There’s been a lot of spend, a lot of cost blow-outs and it’s almost accepted. This is all government spend and road user monies. It should be incumbent on NZTA that they spend the money responsibly,” he said.
He said the 30 to 40 minute detour about the Desert Rd would add up to $160 on top of drivers operating costs – which would inevitably have to be passed on to transport companies’ clients.
“Our advice for members has been make sure your clients understand there is going to be additional costs. Make sure those costs are passed on and make sure you plan for the extra journey time.”
Kalasih said he would be issuing a safety message to members of the organisation in response to the closure.
“These drivers, they risk losing their livelihood if they get tickets. So by and large drivers do their best to stay within the law. I won’t be so naive as to say that everybody does but we will be doing our best to communicate to our members that they take extra care and vigilance when they travel through these local communities.”
