ROADS IN BULLER DISTRICT

Hokitika Guardian, 13 October 1930, Page 2

ROADS IN BULLER DISTRICT

EARTHQUAKE DAMAGE.

PROGRESS OF REPAIR WORK. Mr T. A. Johnston, District Engineer of Public Works, has just returned from a visit of inspection of the Mokihinui-Karamea section of the Main Highway, which was severely damaged by the earthquake last year. !’o a representative of the “Press” he dated that the length of the portion >f the road which was closed to through traffic at present was 22 miles, extending from the Mokihinui river to the Jttle Wanganui ' river. Excellent irogress, he said, had been made by the different camps distributed throughout the various sections with the work of restoration.

At the time of his visit, Mr Johnston was able to travel by car from the Mokihinui river 28i miles* from Westport, to Glasseye, 41£ miles 'from Wes.tport, and also by car from .the 131 mile peg to Kflrattlea. It /will be seen therefore, that the uncompleted pap in the road haS beeii reduced to two miles. It is anticipated that the reconstruction will he far enough advanced to permit emergency traffic .at the end of the year. This,. Mr Jobm ton said, .would depend on the number : if slips which came down m the meantime. . i: " ,r, '

One hundred and sixty-five men are imloyed at present on the work, the maximum having reached 400. Mr Johnston was pleased to. note that despite some heavy rains only slips of v minor nature occurred between Mokihinui and Glasseye. This length if road includes the well known Bluff section, which was so seriously damaged by the earthquake, v It was also noted that definite growth was springing up in a large number of slips. This will assist very materially in holding the country. Though a large section -if the road had been definitely opened i good deal of work remained to be done before it. could be considered safe for through traffic. ' This work involved additional widening, renewal of v large number of culverts, fencing if dangerous portions; and the erection of walls on spine of the parts Where' the added precautions were necessary.

A number of very heavy' slips had occurred recently in the Taffytown sideling,' and it was probable that that section would be one of- the most dif'icult in the way df maintenance for a nonsiderable time.

". A new bridge, 240 feet in length,, of rolled steel joifets Oh pile piers, was being erected over'the Little AVnnganli river by the Public Works Department, and. Was Well advcihcfed. Beyond the Little Wanganui river a short section of road damaged by the earthquake was being re-formed and metalled by the Buller County under i grant from the Main Highways Board. Apart from this the road .for miles between Te Namu and Kongaliu was in first-class running order, having been metalled by the Buller County practically throughout, since the earthquake. A new bridge was in course of erection over the Kongahu river, while a length of road beyond that point, which subsidied at the time o'f the earthquake, was being re-formed and metalled by the Public Works Department. . . .

It was interesting to note, Mr Johnston stated that the old highway between TeNaihii and Kongahu, which followed the foothills had not been reopened, and that the road nearer the sea , coast, which was practically level throughout, and fully served the. settlers, had been adopted as the iiighway. In connexion with the Main Highway from Mohihinui to Karamea the small settlement of Corbyvale, about 39 miles from Westport, which was entirely cut off after the earthquake, and in which the settlers and their wives had a most trying time previous to their evacuation, was now served again by the reinstated road. Most of the settlers, Mr Johnston mentioned, had returned to their farms in the locality. Mr Johnston also inspected the extension of the road north of Karamea. where a number of smaller bridges have recently been erected, nnd further formation and metalling are now' being carried out by the Duller County. This rond not only serves the .settlers in the locality, but will ultimately be a part of the Karamea to Collingwood road. Speaking regarding the Karamea river, Mr Johnston stated that enormous quantities of fine sand and detritus had been carried dow r n from the severely shattered back country, and had caused very definite shoaling in the lower reaches of the river, particularly from the Karamea bridge to the river entrance, a distance of about three miles. This shoaling had made the working of the port a difficult matter, . and it may be some time before the position would be definitely improved. The Public Works Department was, he said, making good progress with the harbour training wall, the stone for which was being obtained in a quarry by the Oparara river.