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Wairarapa Times-Age, 28 February 1940, Page 2

One of the early major undertakings involved in the construction of the Haast Pass road, which will connect Makarora at the head of Lake Wanaka with the West Coast and the South Westland road, which is being brought from Weheka, is the building of the Fish River bridge, situated less than a mile on the eastern side of the pass. Substantial progress has now been made with the bridge by the Public Works Department, and the road work is in hand for some miles past that point. A concrete structure, the bridge will have a 14ft. land span at each end. and a centre arch 102 ft. in length, with a 12ft. roadway. Three bridges will have to be built over the Haast river later on, one at the “Gates of the Haast,” about six miles on the western side of the pass, another further on, and a third near the coast. Bush clearing has now been finished through heavy country for nearly five miles beyond the pass, and the formation of the road to its full width has been carried to within a mile of that stage. About 100 men are employed at present. When this section of the road has been completed the going will be very much lighter, because for the 32 miles that remain to be covered before the West Coast is reached the road will mainly be taken over the flats alongside the. Haast river.