HOMER TUNNEL WORK

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume LXVI, Issue 19894, 23 March 1939, Page 2

HOMER TUNNEL WORK

NEARLY TWO YEARS YET

l).\Y SHUT IX WINTHH

(J.’er I’jtns Association.) INVERCARGILL, this day. A day shift will be worked on the Homer tunnel contract this winter. This decision was made yesterday after a close inspection of the work by the Minister of Public Works, the Hon. R. Semple. The Minister conferred with the engineers on the job and expressed himself as .satisfied that, with gaiety measures carried out to guard against avalanche danger, the men would face no risk.

The effect of this decision is that the tunnel and the road connecting Hollyford Valley with Milford Sound will now be completed by the end Of next year.

“At Christmas of 1940,” declared Mr. Semple, “traffic will be passing through the tunnel."

After inspecting the tunnel and visiting the face where flic drillers arc at work, Mr. Semple said that the lower heading had now been driven 2300 ft. on a down grade of one in 10. This, so far as he knew,

was the steepest tunnel grade in the world. It had been impossible to attack the job from the other end and this had increased the difficulties.

The spoii had to be carried back up the sleep grade. Sumps had to be dug and pumps kept constantly working.

Mr. Semple said he had discussed the position with the engineer in marge, Mr. D. U. White, the contractor, Mr. A. S. Downer, the disirict puoiic works engineer, Mr. P. ixener, and file chief engineer of the Luoiic works Department, Mr. James vVood. He was satisfied that the risk to human life had been reduced to a minimum. In iact mere was no risk at all if the snow was watched carefully. Mr. White had grown up with the j’ob and was fully informed as ;o the possibility of danger and measures to counteract it.

Once the bottom heading was through, said Mr. Semple, the completion of flic tunnel would be an easy matter. The spoil would be sent out downhill, water would not have to be pumped and the ventilation problem would be .solved.

The driving of the bottom heading is proceeding at the rate of suit.