CENTRAL OTAGO

Otago Daily Times, Issue 27043, 30 March 1949, Page 4

CENTRAL OTAGO

MOST ROADS AGAIN PASSABLE RECENT FLOOD DAMAGE With cnly one exception, all the main roads in Central Otago are now open to traffic again after the recent floods, and the Ministry of Works is proceeding with the task of repairing the flood damage. The most damage was done, not by the rising rivers and streams, but by the thousands of torrents that developed on the hillsides where the heavy rain fell. The direct route from Cromwell into Wanaka is still impassable between Luggate and Wanaka because of the damage to Ballantvne’s bridge and also to the bridge at Albert Town. The approach to Wanaka is still through Hawea. This information was supplied to the Daily Times last night by the secretary of the Automobile Association, Otago. Mr P. F. Harre. It appeared that some considerable time would elapse before Ballantyne’s bridge was repaired, he said, although it would not be so long before the bridge at Albert Town was mended The Ministry of Works was proceeding with the repairs to all roads affected by wash-outs and slips and would also repair the damaged bridges as soon as possible. In the Cardrona Valley, half of the road between Cardrona and Wanaka is washed out, the Daily Times correspondent at Wanaka reported last night. In one place on this road, which leads over the Crown Range into Wanaka, there is a drop of 30 feet into the river where the bank has been scoured out. Residents who are unable to get through to Wanaka because of the damage to this road have solved the difficulty of obtaining their necessary supplies. These are now being brought up by a light truck, manhandled across, the gap, then loaded on to a Railways bus to complete the journey. Usually the Crown Range road is closed in May for the winter months when it is snowbound. It is not, however, considered likely that the repairs to this road will be postponed until after the winter.