HOMER TUNNEL

Wairarapa Times-Age, 21 June 1938, Page 10

HOMER TUNNEL

DANGER OF AVALANCHE WORK STOPPED FOR WINTER (By Telegraph—Press Association.) DUNEDIN, June 20. Because of the growing frequency of minor snowfalls and accumulation of snow on the mountainsides, work on the Homer tunnel has been closed down for the winter. Mr A. F. Downer, head of the contracting firm of Downer and Co., Wellington, which is driving the heading tunnel. . said when passing through Dunedin today that work would probably be resumed 'about the end of October, although the exact date would naturally depend on the weather experienced at the Homer Saddle. For several weeks before the actual decision, was made on Friday, the question of closing down the work had been under frequent consideration. It was known that the closing would have to take place before long, although the exceptionally mild season had prolonged working time to a considerably greater extent than could reasonably have been expected in ordinary circumstances. Mr Downer stated that work at the tunnel was made unsafe on ’ Sunday. June 12, when a stop was made for 24 hours, but the tunnellers resumed work on the following night, by which time a decision had been made to close down on Friday. This decision was made after a conference with Mr W. G. Pearce, Public Works engineer at Invercargill. Several minor falls of snow had taken place, and it was considered that the amount of snow that had accumulated on the mountainside in .the neighbourhood of the tunnel mount was such that there was a danger of avalanches. Thirty tunnellers, working continuously day and night, have been employed on the job by Downer and Co. for the past seven or eight months, and when work was stopped on Friday the heading tunnel had been driven for approximately 25 chains. The length of the tunnel when completed will be 4000 feet, so that by far the greater part of the task lies ahead and, in view of the irregularity of. working time, it is impossible to estimate when the main tunnel will be finished. When it is it will afford direct communication with Milford Sound by means of the road which is being built from the Sound to the site of the western portal of the tunnel. With the object of providing as much safety as possible when the work is completed, as well as during tunnelling operations, the Public Works Department is engaged on the construction of what really amounts to an extension of the tunnel for some distance from the eastern end. Tips will give to traffic a measure of protection which is very much need in a region where sudden and unexpected avalanches have been experienced.