Who built otira Viaduct?

McConnell Smith Pty Ltd
Completed in 1999 by McConnell Smith Pty Ltd, the 440 metres (1,440 ft) four-span viaduct carries State Highway 73 over a stretch of unstable land, replacing a narrow, winding, dangerous section of road that was prone to avalanches, slips and closures.

When was the Arthurs Pass viaduct built?

The viaduct, built in the Otira Gorge over 1998–99 to minimise the hazards of road travel, is a major engineering feat. The road across Arthur’s Pass was built in less than a year (1865), during a bitterly cold winter.

How steep is the Otira Viaduct?

In particular the viaduct has a gradient of 11.7%.

How high is the Otira Gorge?

The Otira Gorge and Arthur’s Pass road extends 13.4 kilometres (km) between the townships of Arthur’s Pass and Otira. The Pass summit is 922 metres (m) above sea level, with Arthur’s Pass township at 762 m and Otira at 427 m.

Who owns otira?

Lester Rowntree
Lester Rowntree owns most of Otira and plans to turn the tiny town into a historical landmark.

What does otira mean?

Otira is a small township fifteen kilometres north of Arthur’s Pass in the central South Island of New Zealand. It is on the northern approach to the pass, a saddle between the Otira and Bealey Rivers high in the Southern Alps. Otira means “o” (place of) and “tira” (the travellers).

How steep is Arthurs pass?

16-degree
I am on the road to Arthur’s Pass – named after the chief surveyor Arthur Dobson. It’s a winding road with a 16-degree pitch and on both sides the mountains are raw and rugged without their winter white.

How long did it take to build the Otira tunnel?

The successful tender was English Electric of London, with the works being carried out by Frederick S. Greenshields on their behalf. The Midland railway was then finally opened for through traffic in August 1923 after almost 40 years in the building.

How long is the Otira tunnel?

This 8,529 metre tunnel was the longest in the British Empire at the time of its construction. Driven through wet shale and rotten rock, this extensive tunnel was opened in 1923 completing the Christchurch to Greymouth rail link, known as the Midland Railway.

Why is it called Arthur’s pass?

It was crossed for the first time by Europeans in 1864 and named after the surveyor Arthur Dobson. In 1863 Thomas Cass, the Chief Surveyor for Canterbury, asked Arthur Dobson to look for a pass between the Waimakariri River basin and a valley running to the west coast.

Is Arthur’s pass worth it?

This scenic drive is easily one of the best in all of New Zealand and possibly anywhere in the world. As you’ll find in this article, there are also plenty of things to do in Arthur’s Pass, especially if you’re into hikes and other adventure activities.

What is the longest railway tunnel in NZ?

Kaimai tunnel
Kaimai tunnel New Zealand’s most recent major rail tunnel, the country’s longest at 8,879 metres, was through the Kaimai Range. It opened in 1978, eight years later than planned. The tunnel was designed to dramatically shorten the route from Waikato to the Bay of Plenty and from Auckland to Tauranga.

Where is the longest railway tunnel in the world?

The world’s longest and deepest rail tunnel has been officially opened in Switzerland after nearly two decades of construction work. The Gotthard tunnel is 57 km (35 miles) long and is designed to provide a high-speed rail link from Rotterdam in the Netherlands to Genoa in Italy.

Who built the Homer tunnel?

The tunnel and the associated Milford Road were built by relief workers during the Depression, initially just starting with five men using picks and wheelbarrows. The men had to live in tents in a mountainous area where there might be no direct sunlight for half of the year.

Who discovered Arthurs Pass?

surveyor Arthur Dobson
12 March 1864 It was crossed for the first time by Europeans in 1864 and named after the surveyor Arthur Dobson. In 1863 Thomas Cass, the Chief Surveyor for Canterbury, asked Arthur Dobson to look for a pass between the Waimakariri River basin and a valley running to the west coast.

What is the Maori name for Arthur’s Pass?

A township of the same name (Arthur’s Pass) lies about 5 km south of the mountain pass. The pass is named after Arthur Dudley Dobson and a memorial at the pass commemorates him….Arthur’s Pass (mountain pass)

Arthur’s Pass
Elevation	920 m (3,018 ft)
Traversed by	State Highway 73
Location	New Zealand
Range	Southern Alps

What is Arthur’s pass known for?

What is this? Climbing up to over 900 meters, Arthur’s Pass is the highest pass over the Southern Alps. The highway itself is an example of great engineering involving bridges, viaducts, and redirected waterfalls. It is without a doubt one of the best road trips on the South Island.

Who built the Homer Tunnel?