FAULT IN PAPA PORTAL

Taranaki Daily News, 4 September 1935, Page 3

FAULT IN PAPA PORTAL

DELAY WITH MOKI TUNNEL APPROACH ROAD ALTERATION. DEEP CUTTING FOUND NECESSARY. The discovery of faults in the papa portal over what would have been the northern mouth of the road tunnel through the Moki Saddle on Ohura Road a few chains north of Tahora in the Whangamomona county will delay the completion of the tunnel a month or more according to the weather. The approach road to the tunnel on the northern side will have to be taken further in by means of a deep cutting, which will- necessitate the removal of a large quantity of spoil. The tunnel is being pierced through the saddle to eliminate a long length of clay road that climbs over the hill in a series of “S” bends up a grade that, while not excessive, is sufficient in very wet weather to put a stop to motor traffic except that compelled to use the road by force of circumstances. 1 The tunnel is a boon for which settlers of the country beyond Tahora have long waited, yet the work has been delayed by one of the wettest winters in the history of the district. The/discovery of tlie fault will- mean a further delay. It was not a matfer that could be allowed for in any way and the tunnel was practically completed when the cracks in the clay above the northern mouth were found a few days ago! Considering the weather conditions and the fact that the ■ top of the tunnel had to be timbered, the work has been advanced rapidly and even with all the various delays taken into account it should be finished in a little more than a month. After that the completion of the formation of the approaches can be undertaken. No great difficulty ■ will be experienced on the southern or Tahora side, but on the northern side slips have come down, on the approach and will have to be cleared. At places where slips may be expected to occur again steps will be taken to deviate the approach slightly to avoid similar trouble with those sections in future.

The metalling of the approaches and the road through the tunnel cannot be started till after a spell of dry weather, and the time of commencement is subject to the period taken for the approaches to consolidate sufficiently. However, the tunnel will be ready in time for the holiday traffic season at the end of the year.