Inviting Tunnel Contractors

Press, Volume CIV, Issue 30802, 14 July 1965, Page 1

Inviting Tunnel Contractors

(New Zealand Press Association)

WELLINGTON, July 13.

The Ministry of Work will invite contractors in all parts of the world to advise the department of interest in constructing tunnels for the Tongariro hydro-electric power development.

Announcing this today, the Minister of Works (Mr Allen) said overseas countries, particularly Japan ( the United States and Britain, had already shown considerable interest.

In January a preliminary technical statement on

aspects of tunnelling was sent out so that makers of tunnelling machines would be able to find out just what sort of problems were involved, he saiid. The choice of equipment would be a matter for the contractors themselves, but would no doubt have a bearing on their prices. Mr Allen said there would be three separate contracts for tunnels of varying diameters which had a total length of 23 miles.

Contract No. 1 would be for the Whakapara-Tawhiti-kuri-Wanganuii tunnels in the western division, which would be more than 10 miles long, with diameters from 10ft 6in to lift 6in. Associated concrete intakes, weirs and outfall structures would be part of the job. Contract No. 2, for the Tokaanu tunnel, nearly four miles long and 20ft 9in in diameter for most of its length, would include excavation and concreting of a surge chamber, concrete Intake and gate structure. The nine-mile Moawhango to Tangariro tunnel, 10ft 9in in diameter, with concrete intake and outfall structures, would be covered bv contract No. 3. Formal documents for contract No. 1 would be issued in August to firms which had registered their interest.