HAAST PASS ROAD

Southland Times, Issue 24113, 30 April 1940, Page 6

HAAST PASS ROAD

Imposing Bridge Over Fish River

PROGRESS MAY BE SLOWED DOWN

(Special to The Times) DUNEDIN, April 29. One of the more spectacular jobs being undertaken by the Public Works Department at present in its roading activities in Western Otago is the construction of the Fish river bridge on the Haast Pass road less than a mile on the eastern side of the pass. The bridge is now well advanced and is a most imposing structure. A high single arch of concrete, 102 ft in length, carries the bridge which will have, when completed, a 12ft roadway supported additionally by a 14ft land span at each end. The river is at present crossed by a small bridge slightly lower down to which the road descends precipitously with a climb on the other side, but when the new bridge is brought into use there will be a level run straight through. Although it is roughly in the same category as other scenic roads in the south-west of the island which have been opened up in recent years, the Haast Pass road which has now been carried four or five miles past the boundary between Otago and Westland is completely different in character and when finished will enable travellers to appreciate a diversity of scenic grandeur. , Three more bridges will have to be built before the road can be taken for the 30 miles to the West Coast but in view of the war it is doubtful when it will be completed. When he was in the south recently the Minister of Public Works (the Hon. R. Semple) indicated that there might be a considerable slowing down of public works and suggested that the Haast Pass road was one which would be likely to suffer. This question is before members ot the Cabinet at the present time and it is considered likely that an announcement will be made soon.