Work to begin on Ōtaki Forks slip
Detailed investigative work to begin the process of reinstating access to Ōtaki Forks following a road closure last year has kicked off.
The Ōtaki Gorge Rd has been closed at the area known as Blue Bluff (12km from SH1) since September 2020 after the road slumped towards the river following heavy rain. The road has continued to deteriorate since and is closed to both vehicles and walkers for safety reasons.
The road provides access to a number of tramping tracks in the Tararuas, including the Tararuas.
Driven On The Akatarawa Rd Lately?
If so, its good to know you are still alive and reading this.
We have a function to go to over Christmas up that way and having heard a few hairy stories about the road, I went up there on Thursday to check it out. The road's ok, narrow and winding, but not much worse than a Wellington hill suburb. What was pretty scary was the behavior of other drivers. Three vehicles heading the other way at speed would have crashed into me if I hadn't been pulled off the road. I had pulled in to check the address when a truck came flying past, taking up all of the narrow road at speed. There is no way the driver would have been able to stop had they come around the corner immediately in front of me. The other two drivers came hurtling past as I had turned in to turn around and come back down the hill. They were also driving at speed and taking up most of the road. Coming back down I passed another car coming up and estimate that the safe speed to pass another car was about 30-35 kms.p.h. So, now we're thinking, do we go to the function or not.? Feels a bit like we're taking our life in our hands going up there. Drivers appear to be overconfident, and they are courting serious injury.
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