Tararua district mayor Tracey Collis got to try the driving simulator, observed by Grant Kauri, of Waka Kotahi, at Woodville Community Library. Photo / Supplied
Tararua district mayor Tracey Collis got to try the driving simulator, observed by Grant Kauri, of Waka Kotahi, at Woodville Community Library. Photo / Supplied
The new Manawatū-Tararua highway might be still three years away, but Tararua residents can get a virtual look at what the road may look like via a driving simulator.
The simulator, like the one at the visitor centre in Ashhurst, has been installed at Woodville Community Library.
It allows peopleto take a virtual drive on the Te Ahu a Turanga: Manawatū Tararua Highway, which is expected to be completed by December 2024.
Tararua district mayor Tracey Collis had a go on the simulator herself and found it a great experience.
"That whole road is going to change our district," she said.
"Thirteen minutes to drive that road from Woodville into Ashhurst; that just really connects us."
The simulator would give people a little bit of understanding of the scale of the new highway, which would be a replacement for the Manawatū Gorge, blocked permanently by a large slip in 2017.
Collis said seeing pictures of what the highway would look like was vastly different to actually driving it, albeit via a simulation.
The simulator gives people an idea of what the new highway will look like once completed in three years' time. Photo / Leanne Warr
"The first time I drove the road, I had an accident, as do many other people."
She believed that was due to driver distraction, as people were so busy looking at the surrounding scenery that they would take their eyes off the road for a moment.
"I'm really hoping that doesn't happen in real life," she added.
Collis was pleased to see the investment in the project, which was one of the largest projects in New Zealand, costing $620 million, but it was not without challenges.
"It is a very challenging environment to work with weather-wise and geology-wise, but they have got the teams in there, the equipment in there.
"We can see it happening, but for every part we can see, there's twice as much that we can't."
She said she was impressed with the level of engagement between Waka Kotahi and the community.
"Having a simulator – one in Ashhurst and one based in Tararua – is really awesome."
She understood there was also a mobile unit which would be able to go to, for instance the A&P show, so everyone could experience it.
Collis said there was a lot of leading-edge technology and design going into the roadwork.
"We've never had this sort of investment to give us something long term.
"We couldn't have any more patch jobs, that just wasn't working for us."
The new road would also open up a lot of opportunities for people in the Tararua in terms of business and employment as the district would have easier access to the rail and the airport.
"In my opinion this road will set the way forward for the way New Zealand does business so for any projects."
She said they had involved the iwi and the community and had a focus on local employment and spending money locally, so those in the community who had been disrupted from the closing of the Gorge could reap the benefits.
Grant Kauri, of Waka Kotahi, said keeping the community engaged and informed continued to be important.
"We appreciate the ongoing public interest in the project and recognise how important it is, especially for local communities.
"The driving simulator has been popular at the visitor centre in Ashhurst and it's great to be able to set this up in Tararua so communities on both sides of the ranges can have a go.
"We're grateful to Tararua District Council for their support in hosting the driving simulator in Woodville.
"The landscape is changing rapidly at the Woodville end of the highway alignment and the driving simulator will help people to visualise the end result."
