Desert Road (file image). Photo: RNZ / Rebekah Parsons-King
The closure of a section of Desert Road over summer will provide a welcome boost to Ruapehu businesses which have been hit with indifferent ski seasons and the mothballing of the Tongariro Chateau, its mayor says.
The New Zealand Transport Agency plans to shutdown State Highway One between Turangi and Waiouru for most of January and February to undertake major roadworks.
Ruapehu mayor Weston Kirton said up to 20,000 vehicles would be diverted to regional roads more familiar with 2000 vehicle movements a day, and take motorists through towns such as Ohakune, National Park and possibly even Taumarunui and Raetihi.
Ruapehu mayor Weston Kirton. Photo: RNZ / Angus Dreaver
"It will be tremendous for the likes of the cafeterias, dairies and other services like petrol stations, for example," Kirton said.
"It's been tough times for our district and to have an influx of people coming into this area will be a welcome thing to have, and we'll certainly gear up for that. So yes, the businesses will be thriving, I'm sure."
NZTA said the work could only be done during summer because of freezing temperatures experienced in the area during winter.
The project included rebuilding nearly 16 kilometres of road and replacing the deck of the Mangatoetoenui Bridge.
Detours were likely to take drivers around the western side of Tongariro National Park on (from north to south) SH47, SH4, SH49 and back to SH1, adding about 40 minutes to journey times.
Kirton said while inconvenient for motorists, the disruption would allow Ruapehu to highlight summer activities available there.
"It will allow us to showcase what we have to offer here in the central North Island at that time of year. You know, outdoor activities like canoeing, canoe hire, jet boating, bike rides and tramping are very big at this time of the year and also through the summer months."
Kirton warned that drivers would need to be more careful.
"We're talking about central North Island here and some of the roads don't have many passing lanes, for example. There's some hazardous areas where you have a lot of cornering, there's a lot of hill country with ups and downs and the like.
"So it just means that people need to take more on our roads because they're not like State Highway 1 or Transmission Gully or the Waikato Expressway. You can't get up [to] those speeds. You shouldn't get up to those speeds because it's just physically impossible with the dynamics of this particular area."
Kirton said he would be talking to NZTA to make sure the road safety message was communicated to people having to use the detours.
Meanwhile, NZTA said there would be "soft closures" at each end of the project to allow the likes of farmers, Fonterra and residents to go about their business.
Sign up for Ngā Pitopito Kōrero, a daily newsletter curated by our editors and delivered straight to your inbox every weekday.