OTIRA GORGE ROAD

Hokitika Guardian, 24 March 1933, Page 8

OTIRA GORGE ROAD

damage results FROM. FLOODS

REPAIR COST VERY HEAVY

GTiEYMOUTH, March 23

The heavy.rain on the night- of February 14 caused considerable damage to the section of highway between Qtira and Arthur Pars, an the CanterburyWpst C«ast Road. The District Engineer of Public Works, Mr T. A. Johnston, stated that the rainfall, which was remarkable more for its intensity than for its duration, was •responsible for the severest floods expel'.enced in this locality for many years. At Twin .Creeks, the upper branch, which, during the past 'th.rr.yyears, has shown ’ lio tendency to deviate from its normal, well-defined channel, broke its banks, and is now Mowing down the centre 0 f the road, to join the lower branch, at the preisent ford.,

In the Otira Gorge the flood brought down expensive slips. These filled th e bed of the Otira River from

the foot. 0 f the Zig-Zag, .nearly to the •confluence with the Rollegton, with between. 15 and 20 feet of debris. The river itself reached such a height that it flowed on the deck of the bridge across -the Otira River, at th e entrance to . the Gorge, and also over the road at thg point where tickets were collected in th e old coaching clays. Near the foot of the Gorge, Wesley Ch’oek Ridge was completely wrecked, and a new bridge will have to bo erected. In addition, numerous large slips and washouts blocked th e road t 0 traffic. It is estimated that the coot of restoration of the; load will be somewhere bet.ween £4OOO and £SOOO.

A gang of workmen is engaged in restoration work, and additional men are being drafted to. the,- work .as quickly r.s itjiey can be economically employed. From the , Arthur 7 Pa%s side caip can now' proceed as far us Creeks but, it will be. several months before through vehicular traffic can be established. In. the meantime, motorists, travelling between the Coast and Canterbury will require ;o entrain their cars from Otira to either Arthur Pass or Springfield. A walking track has now been completed ever all the damaged portion of the road, for the use of workmen and ’the public.