HAAST PROJECT

Evening Star, Issue 23682, 16 September 1940, Page 4

HAAST PROJECT

STEADY PROGRESS BEING MADE ROAD FORMATION ADVANCING Steady 'progress is being made with! the construction of the Haast Pass road, states the Public Works engineer (Mr P. Keller). The bush clearing has now been completed to the 47 miles peg, which is approximately at the point where a new suspension bridge is to bo thrown across the Haast Hirer, some tw r o miles above the Burke hut. This bridge will be at a point known as the “ Gates of the Haast,” a rugged, precipitous gorge through which the river tumbles out of the mountains. Actual formation work is well advanced, the road being constructed to its full width to the 45* miles peg, and: half-width is completed to 46 miles. Actual metalling is in hand up to the 45 miles peg. All these distances are "taken from the south end of Lake Hawea. When the road crosses the Haast at the 47 miles four chains point, it will continue along the east side of the stream for some distance and then a further bridge null be required _to take it back again before the junction of the Landsborough and the Haast is reached. The road will then continue on the south side of the river until it reaches the coast. Here, one of the major bridges in the whole undertaking will have to be constructed. At the present time there are 80 men. engaged on the Haast construction work.

The work of widening the Homer tunnel on the Milford Sound road, together with the formation of _ the road itself is continuing, the district engineer advises. Long drills were in short supply, he stated, and unless further stocks arrive shortly it might he necessary to reduce the number of shifts.

There are 80 men on the road-form-ing and bridge-building work on tho Milford side of the tunnel. When completed there will be 80 odd bridges and large culverts on this new highway.