Safer way to school for Piriaka children

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Piriaka children no longer need to walk across the main trunk line and a state highway to catch the school bus.

Until now kids getting to school in Piriaka - South of Taumarunui, have been using an uncontrolled rail pedestrian crossing on Tuka St to cross the main trunk line then crossing over State Highway Four to catch the school bus outside the old Piriaka General Store.

Ruapehu Land Transport Manager Warren said the last day for the school bus picking up kids up from outside the old Piriaka General Store on SH4 was Monday .

KiwiRail has closed the Tuka St crossing and installed new safety fencing on the walkway on either side of the railway tracks to help deter people from using it.

The Ruapehu District Council is aiming to pour the concrete pad for the new bus stop and shelter on Tanoa St soon with the shelter itself which is built off site arriving in June.

"The closure of the Tuka St pedestrian rail crossing and the relocation of the school bus stop to Tanoa St will mean getting to school for Piriaka children is now a whole lot safer," Furner said.