Raetihi residents are urging NZTA to make their town a priority after a massive slip on State Highway Four turned the rural settlement into a ghost town.
The slip happened earlier this month about 500m north of the Matahiwi track on Parapara Road, a key link between Raetihi and Whanganui. It is usually used by about 2000 vehicles each day but, since the slip, has been completely closed off.
- Frustrated Ruapehu locals to meet with NZTA over slip blocking highway
- Spectacular photos capture sheer scale of landslip ripping apart key central North Island highway
- Incredible drone footage captures extremity of Parapara slip between Whanganui and Raetihi
There is currently an hour-long diversion in place, meaning traffic is bypassing the rural town, having a huge impact on their local businesses. It also means for children getting to school and for emergency services to reach the hospital, there are major delays.
Hundreds of locals crammed into a town meeting on Thursday afternoon, with many venting their frustrations about the predicament. Many want to know when State Highway 4 will be reopened.
New Zealand Transport Agency representatives reassured residents they are working on it and want it to be a priority. But due to the weather, they haven't been able to assess how bad the damage is.
Until they are able to do, NZTA is not willing to commit to a timeframe. But there are concerns from locals it could take up to a year to fix.
Ruapehu Mayor Don Cameron told Newshub it has been raining for days on end and it is making the slip worse.
"Rain gets down between the cracks in the slip, almost provides a glassy bottom for that slip to keep sliding across."
Newshub.
