The New Zealand Transport Agency (NZTA) has been urged to get on with a major revamp of State Highway 3 in Taranaki by people attending an information event on the proposals.
The road tunnel on Mt Messenger. Photo: Supplied / Rob Tucker, Venture Taranaki
The agency is proposing to bypass the Awakino tunnel and Mt Messenger, as part of an upgrade costing up to $135 million.
The agency is upgrading 58km of road, through the notorious Mt Messenger and Awakino Gorge sections of the highway, with several proposals for each section.
A steady stream of people attended the drop-in event at Urenui, with the vast majority of them in favour of the work.
Local man Graham Parlene said the agency should choose the more expensive option for bypassing Mt Messenger, do the job once, and do it well.
Andrew Young was the lone dissenting voice. He said options for rail and sea had not been explored thoroughly enough.
