New Zealand State Highway 49
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| State Highway 49 | |
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| Length | 36.2 km 22.5 mi |
| Primary direction | Northwest-southeast |
| Start | SH 4 at Tohunga Junction |
| Primary destinations | Ohakune Tangiwai |
| End | SH 1 at Waiouru |
| Route quality | 100% single carriageway 0% dual carriageway 0% motorway |
| Tourist routes | None |
State Highway 49 is a New Zealand State Highway, linking State Highway 4 and State Highway 1, via the tourist town of Ohakune. It forms the southern part of the ring road surrounding Tongariro National Park, and provides access to the southern side of Mount Ruapehu and the Turoa skifield.
State Highway 49, along with State Highways 4, 47, and 46, is used as an alternative route to the Desert Road, and is well used when the Desert Road is closed due to snow.
State Highway 49 lies entirely within the Ruapehu District.
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[edit] Route
State Highway 49 runs northwest to southeast, and roughly follows the North Island Main Trunk railway. This is the route SH 49 takes in 2008.
State Highway 49 leaves SH 4 at Tohunga Junction, some eight kilometres north of Raetihi, and heads southeast across rolling hills to the tourist town of Ohakune. Following Ohakune's main street, the road continues southeast out of the township, passing Ohakune's famous giant carrot.
State Highway 49 roughly follows the route of the North Island Main Trunk southeast to the Whangaehu River at Tangiwai. The bridge here has flashing lighs and gates to block off the road in case of a lahar. To the side of the bridge is the Tangiwai memorial, erected to remember the 151 people who died when the Wellington to Auckland express train plunged into the river following a lahar on 24 December 1953.
After crossing the Whangaehu River, and the railway line, SH 49 turns east for several kilometres, before turning south into Waiouru. At Waiouru, SH 49 ends at the intersection with State Highway 1.
[edit] Spurs
State Highway 49 used to have one spur - State Highway 49A. It separated from SH 49 at Ohakune, and ran east to Raetihi, where it terminated at State Highway 4. SH 49A has since been revoked.
[edit] Major Junctions
| Territorial authority | Location | km | Destinations | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ruapehu District | Tohunga Junction | 0 |  SH 4 NorthNational Park, Taumarunui |
SH 49 begins |
| SH 4 South Raetihi, Wanganui |
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| Ohakune | 9 | Goldfinch Street Turoa skifield |
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| Raehiti Ohakune Road Raetihi |
Former SH 49A junction | |||
| Waiouru | 36 |  SH 1 NorthDesert Road Turangi, Taupo |
SH 49 ends | |
| SH 1 South Taihape, Palmerston North |
[edit] See also
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