HOMER TUNNEL

Hawke's Bay Herald-Tribune, Issue 211, 22 September 1937, Page 8

HOMER TUNNEL

- Press * Aq'soriafion.)

Work To Be Resumed Soon

(By Telegraph-

INVERCARGILL, Last Night. It ia the intention of the Publio Works Department to resume work on the Homer Tunnel in November, and tenders for the hfiading contract ara now. being called. Due to the danger of avalanches at the tunnel mouth, work will be carried on only when the engineer in charge considers it safe, and operations will be confined to that part o* the year when safety from avalanch6s can reasonably be expeeted. Experience has shown that avalanches occur in spring as late as the middle of October, and in autumn as early as the iirst week in May, so that the wqrking season will extend apprdximately from Ihe beginning of Noveipber to tho end of May. It has been found that the weather alone is respousible for destructive avalanches, and if snow falls on the mountain tops the tunnel conditions are potentially dangerous until a thaw or frost has made them safe again. Particular care will be taken to guard against such conditions. At present about 140 men are engaged bn the Milford Sound side of the tunnel in road construction and bridge making, and in November about the same number will be put to work again on tunnelling operations. After the tragedy in May the men e'ngaged at Homer were transferred to the Lower Hollyford road and to work in Otago.