Two Ruapehu roads to be upgraded

Waimarino Bulletin, Volume 5, Issue 10, 4 August 1987, Page 1

Two Ruapehu roads to be upgraded

Two of the three skifield access roads on Mt Ruapehu will be completely sealed by the end of summer 1988/89, thanks to a decision made by the National Roads Board to subsidise the work. The Ohakune Mountain Road sealing work will be completed within the present financial year, with the NRB allocating $300,000, representing 75 percent of the funds needed to seal the remaining 2.7km of the road. Turoa $kifields Ltd have promised to contribute. the remaining $100,000 for the work. The National Roads Board will also pay 75 percent of the cost of upgrading the Bruce Road, leading to the Whakapapa skifield. This work will cost an estimated $1,722,000, with about half being spent within the present financial year and the rest to be spent in the 1988-89 year. The Bruce Road has a 3.36km stretch of unsealed surface. There has been uncertainty over the future of the road in recent years after its highway status was cancelled. The NRB relinquished responsibility for the road, leaving 'ownership' of it in question. Both the Tongariro National Park and the Taumarunui County were wary of accepting responsibility for the road because of uncertainty over funding. The NRB had said they would pay for all maintenance costs and 75 percent of the capital costs of upgrading, but the county and the park were worried that they would have to pay more than the 25% remaining. Ruapehu Alpine Lifts, who operate at Whakapapa, have agreed to co-ordinate the collection of the other 25% needed. RAL will contribute 12.5% and other organizations who would benefit from the upgrading work have ben approached to come up with the rest.