ROADS TO WEST COAST

Press, Volume XC, Issue 27531, 13 December 1954, Page 12

ROADS TO WEST COAST

SOME FLOODING AT WEEK-END BOTH ROUTES EXPECTED TO BE OPEN TODAY Both the Lewis Pass and Arthur’s Pass highways to the West Coast were closed to traffic for periods during the week-end. There was, however, an improvement in the weather in the Hanmer area and Porters Pass late yesterday afternoon and Mr S. McGregor, highways engineer of the Ministry of Works, Christchurch, said last evening that provided there was no further deterioration in conditions it was expected that both roads would be negotiable by 9 a.m. today. On the Arthur’s Pass route heavy south-east rains that began on Friday night and continued unceasingly 'during the. week-end caused flooding of creeks in the Porters Pass area. The ford at Dry creek was difficult to negotiate and care had to -tie exercised at three shingle fans in the vicinity of Lake Lyndon. On Saturday a Ministry of Works grader stood by at Dry creek and helped motor vehicles through. On Sunday flood waters from the Kowai river damaged the approaches to the Kowai No. 2 bridge about eight miles from Springfield. This made it advisable for the Automobile Association to notify the public that the road was closed, but some motorists who actually reached Dry creek were helped through by a Ministry of Works, grader. ... There has also becu heavy rain in the Hanmer district since Friday night and several open water courses between Hanmer Junction and Engineers’ Camp on the Lewis Pass State highway have been in, high flood and have been carrying large quantities of shingle and boulders. During the hours ?U«sU n of S a patb through all of the fords and then stood by to assist motorists at the two worst .spots—Boundary creek and Williams creek, eight and 11 miles respectively from the Hanmer Junction. The Ministry of Works has a Bailey bridging programme for this area and bridges have already been erected at Gabriel’s gully, Handlside’s Waterfall Deep creek and Manuka creek. . The br „ ld £ ea already erected proved their worth during the week-end in restHcttrouble “tntoly to Boundary and Williams creeks. In the next two months other creeks in the area will bridge lB ° n a permanent !tcel concrete The road from the Hanmer Junction to Hanmer township was blocked for most of the week-end by flood waters from the Bogerson river, which flooded water 181 ” hlghway Wltb swift flowing Near Glasnevin station flood waters crossed the road, and although some motorists experienced difficulty in the area, most travellers were able to negotiate the stretch. The bridge at the entrance to the Ashley Gorge was closed to traffic- by the Ashley and Oxford County Councils yesterday. It was considered to be a danger to traffic. The bridge was damaged in the last major floods when a span was washed out The Ministry of Works at'Temuka reported six inches of water across the road at the northern end of the bridge over the Temuka river last evening tog