DUMPER SHORTAGE AT ROAD TUNNEL

Press, Volume CI, Issue 29723, 17 January 1962, Page 10

DUMPER SHORTAGE AT ROAD TUNNEL

The worst mechanical crisis that has hit the Christ-church-Lyttelton road tunned project almost halted the carrying of spoil last night. A collision between two 15-ton rear dumpers yesterday left only one of seven dumpers on the scheme still in operation. Two more machines should be repaired by this morning to carry spoil from 2000 ft inside the tunnel. Yesterday afternoon a dumper carrying about 25 tons of spoil out of the tunnel crashed against the side of another machine returning empty. They collided in a cutting above Flinders road. A side arm was torn from one and the articulated machine collapsed in the middle. The loaded machine was able to drive on, but will need major repairs before it can operate. The dumpers were travelling about 20 miles an hour, and the crash of their impact resounded across the Heathcote Valley. Another dumper capsized further down the incline from the tunnel last week. Clutch Problem There was another accident on the new motorway leading up to the tunnel on Monday, and with machines withdrawn because of dutch trouble only one was left working last night. Spare-part stocks have been, running low because of im-l port difficulties and a clutch plate is being flown to Christchurch from Sydney today. On tiie same aircraft will be a representative of the firm building these machines. He has been called to assist in getting them back on the job. Plant on the tunnel job is working to capacity. Three loaders have to be maintained to keep one working

in tihe tunnel to load the dumpers.

The strain on the fans drawing foul air from the tunnel is also severe because of the hot weather.

The hot air flowing in through the tunnel mouth means that the ventilation system is working at full strength. The rough, tough work that the rear dumpers are having to do is apparently causing the clutches to overheat, and the clutch places are cracking.

Twelve of the 20 mechanics employed by the contractors were at the tunnel mouth last night repairing the dumpers, and the project engineer (Mr J. G. Smith) was confident that three dumpers would be in action again this morning. A fourth should be ready late tonight. In the meantime, the last of the monster machines, itself delayed for a time with battery short-circuit, was carrying on an all-night shuttle. Householders living below the tunnel road last evening looked forward to a quieter night.