Bridge cut in Buller Gorge

Press, 30 April 1981, Page 2

Bridge cut in Buller Gorge

Greymoiith reporter

State Highway six is closed at the Dee Creek bridge, between Murchison and Inangahua. There is also some flooding in the West-port-Karamea area. Cloud bursts throughout the Buller yesterday resulted in flooding and slips. The Dee Creek bridge is 2km north of Inangahua Junction, on the Nelson side of the Buller Gorge. The resident engineer of the Ministry, of Works and Development • at Westport (mr A. E. hansen) said last evening that staff were loading Bailey bridging to be taken, to Dee Creek this, morning but he expected that it would ne two or three days before the work was. completed. .•

An alternative- route was available through the Shenandoah. • “Very heavy rain had fallen in the area

between Ngakawau and mokihinui.

Shingle slides had affected the highway and Mr Hansen had been told that water had entered two houses at Granity. Another downpour had fallen in the Garvey Creek area between Reefton and Maruia. The rain had eased in Buller and staff were out at daybreak yesterday morning to survey and repair the damage. Heavy showers occurred further south. The hydrologist for the Westland Catchment Board, Mr A. W. Beck, said that no .flood warnings had been issued and no flood reports had been received by the board.

The engineer of the Westland County Council, Mr J. W. Olson,, said in Hokitika last evening that there had been minor surface flooding in South Westland but nothing serious.