Key Takeaways:
- Ed Sheeran fans and other travelers are facing lengthy detours due to the closure of State Highway 3 in Taranaki, New Zealand
- The highway closure is scheduled to last for five days, from 12:01 Friday morning, to replace two end-of-life culverts
- Travelers are being asked to use State Highway 4 or State Highway 1 instead, which is adding extra time and expense to their journeys
- The closure is affecting not only concert-goers, but also holidaymakers, sports competitors, and businesses that rely on the highway
- Waka Kotahi has apologized for the disruption, but says there was no good time to do the work and that summer is the best time for the replacement due to low water levels
Introduction to the Road Closure
The closure of State Highway 3 in Taranaki, New Zealand, has caused significant disruptions to travelers, including Ed Sheeran fans, holidaymakers, sports competitors, and businesses. The highway, which is the only route into and out of Taranaki from the north, is being closed for five days to replace two end-of-life culverts. The closure, which began at 12:01 Friday morning, has forced travelers to take a lengthy detour via State Highway 4 or State Highway 1, adding extra time and expense to their journeys.
The Impact on Travelers
The closure is having a significant impact on travelers, particularly those who had planned to attend Ed Sheeran’s concert in Auckland. Solo mother of three Lisa Corrigan, who bought tickets for herself and her eldest daughter back in August, is having to add an extra two days of accommodation to her trip to avoid the lengthy detour. "It’s actually just too long driving for one person to do on their own, so we’ve had to add on an additional two days of accommodation, one on each end to avoid travelling the longer route," she said. Another couple, Adele and Ronald Donghi, are having to take two days extra off work to catch the concert and are staying with family in Hamilton to avoid the detour.
The Detour Route and Its Effects
The detour route, which takes travelers via State Highway 4 or State Highway 1, is adding significant time and expense to journeys. The route is not only affecting concert-goers, but also holidaymakers, sports competitors, and businesses that rely on the highway. Competitors heading home from the National Waka Ama champs at Lake Karapiro, and those travelling to the Taranaki Men’s Open Fours in New Plymouth, will also be affected. Additionally, fans of American comedian Matt Rife, who will be performing at Spark Arena, will have to plan their journeys carefully to avoid the closure.
The Impact on Businesses
The closure is also having a significant impact on businesses that rely on the highway. Nikola Selby, general manager at New Plymouth-based haulage firm JD Hickman, is having to perform a juggling act with the company’s 65 trucks. "It’s extremely disruptive; it’s the main arterial route into and out of Taranaki, so what we can effectively do in a day or in a week we cannot do now because we are having to add an extra sort of 250-300 kilometres on our trips, so it has a significant financial implication for the business," she said. Mōkau butcher Bryan Lester is also expecting business to dry up, as at least 80 percent of his trade comes from passing travelers who have heard about his shop and products through word-of-mouth.
Waka Kotahi’s Response
Waka Kotahi project manager Kendra Ludeke has acknowledged that the closure will be disruptive, but says there was no good time to do the work. "We needed water levels to be really low because we’re working in waterways, so summer time is the best time for us to do that replacement," she said. Ludeke also stated that the organization stayed away from the Christmas/New Year period and the start of the school year to minimize disruptions. The closure is scheduled to end at 11:59pm on Tuesday, when the highway will reopen to one-lane traffic under stop-go management.
Conclusion
In conclusion, the closure of State Highway 3 in Taranaki has caused significant disruptions to travelers and businesses. While Waka Kotahi has apologized for the disruption, the organization says there was no good time to do the work and that summer is the best time for the replacement due to low water levels. Travelers and businesses are having to adapt to the closure, with some having to add extra time and expense to their journeys, while others are having to juggle their schedules to minimize the impact. The closure is a reminder of the importance of planning and communication in minimizing disruptions to travelers and businesses.
