‘Tunnel’ at washout holds under cars

Press, 28 August 1979, Page 3

‘Tunnel’ at washout holds under cars

Several cars and at least one truck risked being plunged into the swollen Hanmer River early yesterday morning when they unwittingly crossed a tunnelwashout. During the night a tunnel had been washed out under the approaches to the new Hanmer River bridge, creating a second “bridge” only centimetres thick and made of tar seal. Washouts on both sides of the road were the first sign of anything wrong; they were reported to the Amuri County Engineer (Mr C. J. Smale) at daybreak. As he inspected them he noticed floodwater pouring through and realised there was a tunnel, about three metres wide, under the road itself. It was immediately closed. By then early-morning risers

had crossed it on their way to work, and North Canterbury Transport’s daily freight truck had been over it twice — once each way. A Bailey bridge had been required to span the delicate “bridge” area so light traffic could cross safely, Mr Smale said. The road had been reopened to cars about 3.30 p.m. yesterday. Mr Smale could not predict when it would be open to heavy traffic, but it would not be before the end of the week. Repairs could not begin in earnest until the floodwaters receded, he said. The approaches had been protected by heavy boulders which must have been washed away by the fastflowing river, swollen by the week-end’s heavy rain. The rain caused problems in other parts of North Canterbury, too. Highway 70, the inland road between Waiau and Kaikoura, was still closed late last evening after slips and washouts along it. Council staff had first been stopped by floodw’ater a metre deep over the road near the Mason River, Mr Smale said. Later, when that receded, at least two more washouts had been discovered. These were still under repair. “Nobody can know exactly what has happened in the middle because nobody can get. in from either end to find out.” About. 175 mm of rain is reported to have fallen near Waiau, and at Hanmer the week-end’s total was more than 200 mm. Numerous back roads in North Canterbury were closed, and the approaches to at leapt four bridges in Hurunui County were cut, either by washouts or flooding. State highway 1, the main road to Picton, is open but

at risk from slips and minor flooding, the Automobile Association reports. A slip closed ttje main trunk railway line to Picton late on Sunday afternoon but it was cleared yesterday. Passengers booked aboard trains connected with the Cook Strait ferries were taken between Christchurch and Kaikoura by bus, with no delays reported. No significant backlog of freight had built up, according to a Railways spokesman, and freight trains were running on time. Airline passengers were also affected by bad weather yesterday. Wellington Airport was closed between 6 a.m. and noon, and the Dunedin and Invercargill airports were closed until 11 a.m. This meant that seven flights out of Christchurch and four in were cancelled. All passengers had been rebooked aboard other scheduled flights, according to an Air New Zealand spokesman. The backlog was expected to have been cleared by late last evening. Canterbury farmers suffered their first big setback of the winter when thousands of lambs died in the wet, cold weather. About 18,000 dead lambs were .brought from country areas to a slink skin firm in Christchurch. The losses, although not considered heavy in any area, were widespread. One of the worst hit districts was Banks Peninsula, where more than 100 mm of rain fell in most areas. Fairly heavy losses were also reported in Mid-Canter-bury, Hawarden, and Scargill. Canterbury Plains farmers whose properties include shelter belts were able to put tfiese to good use and flocks on those farms were not hit badly.