HOMER TUNNEL

Hokitika Guardian, 22 September 1937, Page 3

HOMER TUNNEL

■ ■— WORK TO RESUME IN NOVEMBER {Per Press Association—Copyright). INVERCARGILL, September 21. It is the intention of the Public Works Department to resume work on the Homer Tunnel in November, anil tenders for the heading contract are now being called. ; Due to the danger of avalanches at the tunnel mouth, wg.k will be carried on only when the Engineer-in-Chiel considers it safe, and operations will be confined to that'part of the year when safety trom avalanches can reasonably be expected. Experience has shown that avalanches t veur in the spring as late as the middle of October, and in the Autumn as early as the first week in May, so that the working season will extend approximately from the beginning of November to the end of May. It has been found that the weather alone is responsible for destructive avalanches, and if snow falls on the mountain tops round the tunnel, the conditions are potentially dangerous until a thaw or frost has made them sale again. Particular care will he

taken to guard against such condi« turns. At present about 140 men are'en* gaged on the Milford Sound tide of the tunnel in road construction ahd bridge-making, and in November about the same number will be put to work again on tunnelling operations. After the tragedy in May the men engaged at Homer Tunnel were transferred to the Lower Hollyford Road .'ind to work in Otago.