A proposal to reopen the Manawatu Gorge has been rejected by the New Zealand Transport Agency.
Les Fugle, who represents a consortium of local contractors, told Stuff the project would have been $100 million cheaper and could have been completed in two years.
That’s compared with four options put forward by the NZ Transport Agency, which could take up to five years.
Fugle’s group would have raised the road by 15 metres and cut a “safety zone” to contain future slips.
“It doesn’t make sense…our option was quicker, cheaper and flatter,” he says.
However, NZTA estimates it would be more expensive than the alternatives.
“Slips of similar size to this year’s Anzac weekend slip, and the 2011 slip, would still close the road,” Transport agency regional transport systems manager Ross I’Anson told Stuff.
“The cost of earthworks to remove this risk would be considerably higher than any of the other options considered, and would significantly impact on the Department of Conservation reserve and walking tracks.”
