New SH1 route to bypass Taupo

5.00pm - By JO-MARIE BROWN

The route of a new State Highway in Taupo has been decided and traffic travelling through the central North Island is to be diverted away from the town.

The Taupo District Council today voted to proceed with the $26 million East Taupo Arterial (ETA) project after a panel of three independent commissioners recommended the proposed route be approved.

The new State Highway, to be built in four stages, would leave the existing SH1 near Taupo airport and run east of the township to link with the SH1/SH5 intersection to the north.

Today's confirmation of the route is a significant milestone for the project which was first discussed in the 1960s.

Council works manager Mike Keys said 15,000 vehicles a day - including 2500 trucks - currently drive around Taupo's lakefront, many of which were just passing through on their way to centres like Auckland, Hamilton or Wellington.

The resulting congestion was dangerous, noisy and made it difficult for locals and visitors to easily move around the town.

"The truckies will love it because they hate waking up suburbia and stopping at traffic light and things like that so this'll be a clean route through," Mr Keys said.

The majority of public submissions supported the proposed ETA which would allow locals to enjoy Lake Taupo and the public domain without having to cross busy roads to access them.

"The lift in amenity values will make it an even nicer place to be," Mr Keys said.

The council had set aside $11 million to fund the first three stages of the ETA and Transit New Zealand would be asked to pay for the $15 million fourth stage which would include a new bridge crossing the Waikato River.

Mr Keys said it was hoped construction would begin next year and be completed by 2006.

Shop Taupo spokesman Jim McWilliams said local businesses did not believe the ETA would result in a drop off in visitor numbers despite projections that 4000 vehicles a day would use the new route.

"If we're able to develop the town centre of Taupo along more leisurely lines then we think it'll attract more people and become more of a destination."

Taupo was well geographically placed as a stop-over during long trips and those that would normally call in would still do so, Mr McWilliams said.

No retail developments would be allowed the 15km-long route and several feeder roads would allow motorists to divert into Taupo if they wished.

"It allows us to take a more customer and pedestrian friendly approach to what we do in Taupo which we're prevented from doing at the moment with trucks flying through the main street."