Stock underpasses provide good option

INSTALLATION of stock underpasses to help farmers move dairy cows across the region’s roads for milking or grazing remains steady at around three per year, though the Manawatu District Council would like to see that figure grow.

Roading Team Leader, Jim Mestyanek, said more than 50 underpasses were now operating in the district as farmers sought greater safety for their herds and road users at the stock crossing points, but he was hoping more property owners would consider their introduction.

“Council has always been an advocate for stock underpasses, whenever possible,” he said, “because of their usefulness and that cows can safely access paddocks on both sides of the road with little supervision.”

Mr Mestyanek recognised that significant costs were faced by the farmer in installing an underpass but strongly recommended their construction if it was affordable.
“Council does offer a small financial reimbursement towards the cost of installation which indicates its commitment to encouraging the use of underpasses.”

He said underpasses were successfully installed on sand country near Foxton and Rongotea recently and on an elevated river flat at Kiwitea.

“Some of the underpasses in the past, however, have not been built that well, with roads having sunk because trenches were not compacted correctly.

“Council is now trying to get a good control on underpass construction and land owners are reminded that they are responsible for maintaining the road seal and roadside drain for a year after construction.”

He said motorists should be able to travel over underpasses and not know they were there, with no bumps or hollows, and that waterways alongside the road should not be affected and be functioning properly.

“Stock underpasses are a good option for sites that involve a busy road or large herd, as the animals become less stressed and there is less likelihood of the road deteriorating because of cow effluent and urine degrading the roading materials and causing potholes.”

He said underpasses, which needed to be 50 metres away from a neighbour’s boundary, were also worth considering if farmers were looking at purchasing property on the other side of the road.

Pamphlets on cow crossings are available at the council’s administration office in Manchester Street, Feilding.