7 May 2004

Start Made On Sealing Remaining Road to Cape Reinga

Transit New Zealand has started construction of the first 700 metres of State Highway 1F project, which will eventually see the sealing of the final 22 kilometres of highway from Waitiki Landing to Cape Reinga. This first stage will be completed by the beginning of June at a cost of $400,000.

Stage 2, which will see the completion of the remaining 19.3 kilometres of state highway, will start in January 2005 and be completed during 2008 at a cost of $8 million.

Transit New Zealand Regional Manager Wayne McDonald says the sealing of the road to Cape Reinga will have a major benefit to local communities who depend on the route for property access, as well as the thousands of tourists who visit each year.

“As well as being much safer when sealed, the road will provide a much more pleasant environment with the elimination of dust and ongoing damage to vehicles,” says Mr McDonald.

He says the last eight kilometres to the Cape, which is at present recreation reserve, will require close liaison with the Department of Conservation and iwi to have it proclaimed a state highway.

ENDS

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