RIMUTAKA TUNNEL

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXV, Issue 23175, 22 October 1938, Page 12

RIMUTAKA TUNNEL

SURVEY OVER RANGE PRELIMINARY UNDERTAKING STATEMENT BY MINISTER [BY TELEGRAPH —PRESS ASSOCIATION! WELLINGTON. Friday The intention of the Government to make an immediate commencement with a survey over the Rimutaka Range as an essential preliminary undertaking to the construction of the tunnel through the range was announced by the Minister of Public Works, the Hon. R. Semple, in an interview to-day. Mr. Semple said that following the completion of the survey tunnelling would he commenced in earnest. The most modern tunnelling appliances would be used. "We have been waiting for the good weather before making a start. Such a job could not possibly be tackled in winter time and the bad weather experienced in the range has hold the work up. As soon as we know all about Hie alignment of the tunnel and everything lias been checked mathematically, the actual tunnelling work will go ahead with all possible speed," said the Minister.

"Modern appliances will be used and on a conservative estimate they will increase the speed of construction by .'35 per cent, as compared with the time taken on the Otira tunnel, the bottom head of of which took 12 years to construct. The Rimutaka tunnel will be practically the same length as the Otira tunnel, and with the modern equipment we propose to use the bottom head can be put through in five years. New tunnelling methods should cut in half the time taken on tho job," concluded Mr. Semple.