Who wants Bruce Road?

Waimarino Bulletin, Volume 4, Issue 38, 10 March 1987, Page 3 (Supplement)

Who wants Bruce Road?

Since the cancellation of the Bruce RoacTs highway status, it has become an expensive ward that no one wants to claim. The 'Bruce Road'startsat the Whakapapanui bridge just south of the Whakapapa Village in Tongariro National Park, and finishes at 'The Top of the Bruce', at Whakapapa Skifields. The National Roads Board has had responsibility for the road for the last 20 years and funded maintenance of it until around five years ago. With the cancellation of the highway status came the Roads Board's refusal to maintain it. The Board agreed to pay the new 'owner' 100% of all maintenance costs but only 75% of the capital costs of upgrading, meaning that whoever took responsibility for the road would automatically be required to pay 25% of the upgrading costs. This has meant the Bruce Road has become an expensive baby that neither the Roads Board, Taumarunui County nor Tongariro National Park want to claim.

Both the Taumarunui County and Tongariro are wary of accepting responsibility because they are both afraid that the formula might change and instead of having to pay 25% of the costs they will have to pay more. Chief ranger at Tongariro Paul Green said he was a little confused about the reasons behind the road's drop in status. He said other roads, such as Milford Sound and the road leading to the Mt Cook village, both

of which are within National Parks, are still classed as State Highways. "We feel (as do the County), that it seems strange for the Bruce Road to lose its status because it is used in a national sense," said Mr Green. He is of the opinion that it will probably take a political decision on the matter before it can be resolved. The road is in about the same condition as it was last ski season and looks set to stay that way for the present.