May become a road to somewhere again, if the Old Slip Rd
above the Waitaki River and Lake Waitaki becomes part of
the Alps to Ocean cycle trail. Part of the road can be seen
in the foreground. Photo by Waitaki District Council.
The Old Slip Rd between Hakataramea and the Aviemore dam
may be used again as a spectacular section of the Alps 2 Ocean
trail. It is believed the road, on the north side of the
Waitaki River and Lake Waitaki, has not been used since the
Waitaki dam was constructed between 1928 and 1934. Most of it
remains, although a part is cut by a spectacular slip.
It is believed the road can be reopened, at an estimated cost
of $200,000 to $220,000, to be part of the cycle trail,
bypassing the dangerous and twisty section of State Highway
83 between the Aviemore dam and Kurow.
Plans to reopen the road were outlined to the Waitaki
District Council's committee of the whole yesterday by its
community service group manager Thunes Cloete, who gave an
update on the trail's construction.
The proposal to use the Old Slip Rd followed concerns by New
Zealand Cycle Trail too much of Alps 2 Ocean was on highways
and, in particular, the section on SH83, from the Aviemore
dam to Kurow.
Dr Cloete said that prompted a look at the Old Slip Rd, to
continue the trail from the Aviemore Dam along the north side
of Lake Waitaki and the river to Hakataramea, then over the
new twin bridges, which would have a cycle lane, to Kurow.
While the ''slips looked terrible'', the road was not as bad
as it appeared. A lot remained under the debris and some
sections were still legally designated. Some short sections
prone to slipping could be bridged.
The result would be a section of the trail with ''absolutely
fantastic views'', Dr Cloete said.
The project still has to be confirmed, after negotiations
with an affected property owner.
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