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A “DANGEROUS” fallen tree beside State Highway 3 is scheduled to be removed today. The action comes after some weeks of delays.
The tree that fell before Christmas, has concerned local drivers.
“It must have Covid because no one wants to shift it,” quipped Piopio farmer Raymond Watkins.
The four-metre tree is located 100 metres from Maraetaua Rd, a few kilometres south of Te Kūiti. It is only a few centimetres from the white line, and blocks cyclists’ access to the road shoulder.
Raymond and his wife, Lisa Watkins, said the tree posed a risk to road users. “It seems to have been there for a heck of a long time, since last year,” Lisa said.
“It’s dangerous. If somebody was coming the other way and there were two cars and they were going to collide, and you were getting out of the way, you’d hit it, wouldn’t you?
“There’s nowhere else to go because it’s right there.”
Natasha Utting from Waka Kotahi, the Government agency responsible for state highways, was aware of the tree’s presence.
“Our contractors have advised us that they are aware of the tree trunk and it was planned to be cleared prior to Christmas, however, [this] was delayed due to the weather and traffic management resource restraints.
“The team returned from the holiday break yesterday and it is programmed to be cleared on Thursday, January 19.”
Natasha said the crew had needed to prioritise work elsewhere.
“[There is] always lots going on in the network and jobs get juggled depending on urgency,” she told the King Country News.
