Alliance war room fights weather-bomb damage

A road east of Pahiatua which crumbled during last week's severe storm.

It was a bomb of the weather variety and the Tararua Alliance set up a war room to plan its attack.

Last week's storm left a trail of destruction across our roading network, described by Chris Chapman, the alliance network manager, as "massive".

"Two days last week our network suffered as much damage as havoc created by the two cyclones in April," he said.

"With huge damage on our roading network we've got multiple crews out working."

And slips continued to come down this week, including one at Waihoki Valley in Tiraumea, but Mr Chapman said the alliance has good systems in place to cope.

"Our war room is in operation and we're continuing to co-ordinate our network inspection crews and project crews, while carrying out our routine work as usual," he said.

The emergency work will be subsidised by the New Zealand Transport Agency.

Temporary options are being considered on Route 52 near Saunders Rd, at Tiraumea, where the alliance is working with a local landowner for a temporary road across his land.

And while Wimbledon farmer Brian Hales continues to sit out his isolation, the Tararua Alliance hopes to have Cochranes Bridge, between Weber and Wimbledon, opened by the end of this week.

"It is still very quiet here, no trucks, no service vehicles, just the odd car sneaking through," Mr Hales said.

And with increased traffic over the Pahiatua Track because of the closure of the Saddle Rd, from east to west between 9am and 3pm, Tararua District Council is in discussion with NZTA regarding an increased subsidy for the maintenance of that road.

"We are witnessing increased traffic on this detour route and damage to the pavement, mainly due to the extra trucks," Mr Chapman said.

"And that heavy traffic will only increase once dairy farmers start calving and supplying milk."

With slips across the Tararua and more rain forecast for today and tomorrow, Mr Chapman is urging people to drive carefully.

The Tararua council's road status page is up-to-date and motorists are urged to check out their route before setting out.