Alternative route for Otira road?

Press, 8 May 1980, Page 14

Alternative route for Otira road?

Wellington Reporter The most likely alternative route to realign the Otira Gorge zig-zag was to take the road across the Otira River at the head of the gorge and run it on the opposite bank on the'solid rock face before returning to the existing route above Candys Bend. This would provide a much more solid base for the road, said the Minister of Works and Development’s chief highways engineer (Mr E. J. Burt). But it would be a very steep road, as the river fell in a gradient of 1:4 there. He estimated such a diversion would cost $3 million - §4 million at today’s - roading costs. There is already an access

track to the river from the bottom of the zig-zag section for such a road. The zig-zag section faces realignment within five years ' and a new route to bypass the section will be needed within 15 years. Officers of the Ministry are making feasibility studies to ensure that a route over Arthur’s Pass is kept in spite of flooding and wash-out. The zig-zag section has already been eroded and washed out three times in recent years, requiring the highway to be shifted uphill. This is how the road gained its distinctive zigzag. Continuing slipping at the zig-zag, plus nearbv erosion at Candys Bend made it likely that another loop would be needed within the next five years, Mr Burt said. This was unrelated to

the damage caused to the road by severe storms in the area in October and December last year. Most of that damage was to the highway farther downstream. At least two other choices are being considered: having a road across the river at the head .of the gorge and returning it half way down the slip on the zig-zag section; building a rock ramp beside the river on the same side the road is now, which would take the road straight from the head of the gorge to Candys Bend in front of the slip and not around it. Mr Burt emphasised that both these options too would involve several million dollars. But he said that so far the Ministry saw no choice but to make big and expensive realignment if the route were to stay open.