Formation Of New Highway

Waikato Independent, Volume XLIII, Issue 6036, 23 October 1946, Page 4

Formation Of New Highway

PROGRESS AT HORAHORA

EFFECT OF KARAPIRO LAKE

When the Waikato River is dammed at Karapjro and the lake formed in connection with the hydro-electric scheme, several miles of the Cam-bridge-Rotorua Main Highway near Horahora will be submerged. For the past year the Public Works Department has been engaged in the formation of a deviation, which is now almost completed. The new road runs almost parallel with the present sealed highway, but on a much higher level. Work has reached the stage where all normal traffic will soon be able to pass over the deviation, which is in the process of being metalled. However the old highway will still be used until the lake is filled, which is likely to be next February or March.

Consolidation of the new road will take some time and permanent bitumen sealing will not be attenmpted until later. The new highway will form an attractive scenic drive, as in many places the lake level will come within 25 or 30 feet of the road. A fine new bridge is being constructed over the Waikato River to replace the present wooden structure which serves the Maungatautari and Orepunga districts. The stage has been reached when the deck is being laid. The work is being done in sections and the first was laid last week. Tests of the decking have proved satisfactory. Further sections will bo laid next week. It is almost two years since work was commenced on the bridge, which is unusual in that it "straddles" the old bridge which will be submerged. The new structure should be open for traffic within the next few weeks. Extensive new roading has been necessary also on the Maungatautari side of the river, where a considerable amount of filling has been carried out. The new road, which runs behind Mr P. W. Suckling's homestead is now nearing completion after delays caused by underground springs. A portion of the pipe line carrying Cambridge's water supply from Maungatautari spring to the resevoir will be submerged, and . this will necessitate a new line being laid. It will follow the new section of the Maungatautari road, and will not be completed immediately, to enable the large filling over which a section will pass, to consolidate first. The old piping will not be removed and it will be in use for some tiipe after the lake is formed. The Horohora power station will be submerged, but it will continue to supply power as long as possible. Little of the machinery and equipment will be salvaged, the expense of removal being considered greater than its value and the loss of power that' would be occasioned.

The petrol station on the Cam-bridge-Rotorua highway will be shifted to a new site some distance away on a higher level, as the present station site will be submerged..