HOMER TUNNEL

Wairarapa Times-Age, 12 January 1939, Page 8

HOMER TUNNEL

UNEXPECTED INFLOW OF 'WATER. DIFFICULTIES OVERCOME. By the middle of March the bottom heading tunnel which is being driven through the Homer Saddle in preparation for the full-sized tunnel, which is to be undertaken later, will have been pierced for half the total distance. This information was given in an interview by the district public works engineer, Mr P. Keller. About a month ago some difficulty was experienced by the contractors for the heading tunnel as a result of an unexpected inflow of water being tapped, but this has now been overcome by the installation of additional pumping equipment. Mr Keller said| that the pumps were now dealing ado- I quately with the water. There had been only one very pronounced in- 1 ficw of about 19,000 gallons an hour, but it was now well in hand and no water was reaching the working] face. i

The tunnel face is now driven io approximately 251 chains from the eastern portal, and when another fiv<

chains have been driven the heaci.r..'.; tunnel will be half-way through, the total length cf 4000 ft.

Evon when the heading, which is 12ft. by 9ft.. is completed, however, there will remain the larger task, cf excavating to the full tunnel dimensions of 24ft. by 20ft. The object of pushing forward with the smaller tunnel is to facilitate the haulage cf

spoil and the drainage associated with] the work cn the full-sized tunnel. j