Raetihi - Ohakune Rd loses SH status

Ruapehu Bulletin, Volume 8, Issue 378, 19 March 1991, Page 1

Raetihi - Ohakune Rd loses SH status

State highway 49 between Ohakune and Raetihi is to be downgraded to a district road. This means that from July 1992 ratepayers will have to pay for most of the maintenance of the road. The present state highway 49a, 'Tohunga Road', will become State Highway 49. Transit NZ's policy now is that where there are two state highways in one area along the same route only one will be able to have highway status. A decision on whether the Raetihi-Pipiriki and the Wanganui river roads will be designated a special road is still under review. "Transit NZ want specific questions answered," said Garrick

Workman Ruapehu District council mayor. "We need to convince them about tourism and that the road is being used to a far greater degree by tourists, the need for buses to use the road and the low rates generated from the area," he said. "Also in the future logging will be important." "We need to focus on promoting the area as a desirable place to visit." The Ohakune Mountain Road and the Bruce Road are to keep their special road status. The road from National Park to Turangi around Rotoaira has also been downgraded with the road over the Pihanga gaining highway status.