Road closure forces cafe to shut down

The prolonged closure of the Manawatu Gorge road has forced the Beyond the Bridge Cafe to close until State Highway3 reopens.

State Highway3 through the gorge has been closed due to slips since August. While the road past the cafe at Ballance has remained open, it is past the turnoff for the sign-posted detour route over the Saddle Rd.

Cafe owner Rebecca Algie could not be reached for comment yesterday, but in a letter to customers said the closure was only temporary.

"The closure of the Manawatu Gorge has made sustaining normal business hours impossible and retaining weekend hours has become financially unfavourable," she wrote. "However, we intend to reopen the Bridge Cafe as soon as the Manawatu Gorge is reopened.

"Bridge Cafe would like to thank those who have supported the business through this difficult time."

Miss Algie had previously talked to the Manawatu Standard about the stress the road closure was placing on her business. The cafe was losing up to $10,000 a week while the gorge road remained shut and Miss Algie had reduced its opening hours.

Customers took to the cafe's Facebook page to express their feelings about the cafe's closure.

Diana Lawrence wrote that she was amazed the cafe had stayed open as long as it had. "So sorry Beccy that this has had to happen, talk about bad luck," she said.

"Chin up," wrote Jeannette Bayley. "You'll be back up and running in no time and this will be but a memory. Enjoy the time off."

"I pray that things pick back up again as soon as the gorge is back open again," wrote Bob Kinzett. "You're in a wonderfully unique and beautiful spot, and a great place to visit."

A date for the reopening of the state highway is uncertain. Contractors are working on digging the third bench and will excavate two more before deciding whether to cut benches right down to the road.

- © Fairfax NZ News