LAST BARRIER PIERCED

Taranaki Daily News, 1 August 1932, Page 6

LAST BARRIER PIERCED

STRATFORD-OHURA RAILWAY ENDS OF LARGE TUNNEL JOINED, COMPLETION NOW WITHIN SIGHT} The beginning of the end of the railway construction work on the Stratford-Main Trunk line was reached on Saturday, when No. 4 tunnel, joining the Mangatete and Heao valleys, was pierced.. Thus for the first time have the-Workers driving respectively from the Taranaki and Ohura ends met. Only 2j chains of this 52-chain tunnel have now to be opened to full size arid concreted, and the last great tunnel will be finished, thus bringing the end of the work in sight, The permanent way from Ohura and from Stratford is completed practically up to the portals of No. 4 tunnel, and within a few months, .providing the work is proceeded with.es it has been in the past, Taranaki should be directly linked by rail with the Waikato and Auckland.

The Railway Department at present runs regular trains from Okahukura junction, on the Main Trunk line, to Ohura, and from Stratford, to Tahora. It is the gap of about 22 miles between Tahora and Ohura upon which the Public Works Department has been concentrating its construction.. activities during recent years. Slowly thejespective lines have been driven towards the common goal—-No. 4 tunnel—-and in many places, particularly on the Taranaki sector,, the cost of construction has been as much as £100,009, a mile, owing to the phenomenal ruggedness of the country. The Obstacles to be overcome may be gauged when it is pointed out that along this 22 miles of railway line no less than. 14 tunnels haye had to be driven, aggregating over four miles in length. Several of them, following closely one upon the other, are Approximately half a mile to three-quar-ters of a mile long. * With the piercing of No, 4 tunnel the going is now comparatively easy.