State Highway 1’s Desert Road in New Zealand’s central North Island will reopen on Friday, March 14, after being closed for two months for major repairs.
The road, which connects Tūrangi and Waiouru, had been shut since mid-January, requiring travellers to take a 40-minute detour. Road workers have rebuilt and repaired 28 lane kilometres—12 more than originally planned—and replaced the deck of the Mangatoetoenui Bridge.
The transport agency explained that closing the road completely allowed for faster, more effective construction methods. The work is part of New Zealand’s largest road maintenance project, the Tīrau to Waiouru maintenance program. Before the repairs, this section of SH1 was considered one of the worst in Waikato and among the hardest to fix.
The road will reopen at 1 p.m. with traffic management and speed restrictions in place for several days. More work on the road surface will be done later in the year, mostly at night.
While the closure surprised some local leaders and increased freight costs, many supported the decision, saying the road needed urgent repairs. Businesses in towns like Ohakune and Taumarunui saw a boost as traffic was diverted through their communities.
That is one fit cat. I dont think i could walk that far. Let a lone a cat!!!
long way for a cat to travel
it was really good and interesting I loved it good job
That’s a long way.
The owners must’ve been scared to lose their cat but in the end the cat was found by a kind person who looked after the cat after walking 1448 km.
Thats pretty amazing! Very fit cat. Surely it didn’t do it all on paw! That’s crazy!
a least the cat got home
That cat must love their family so much to travel 1448 km, by paw!
I want that cat NOW!!!!!!!!
wish i could travel that far
wow cat strong
traveled so long!
they are so cute