Rock Shelter and Reid Falls Aqueduct, Otira Gorge 2008

About this image

DescriptionThe rock shelter was constructed to capture and deflect the almost continuous rock fall from the cliffs above the gorge, this has been an issue since the roads original construction in the 1860's.
This issue was exacerbated during the 1994 earthquake when considerable amounts of rock debri blocked both the highway and dammed the Otira River.
The Reid Falls aqueduct was constructed to prevent flooding of the highway during heavy rainfall events.
The Reid Falls aqueduct has been modified since its original construction with a vertical screen to prevent strong winds blowing the waterfall back onto the highway. This was a large issue in the winter when the water froze to the highway surface.

Photo shared from TrekEarth.PhotographerJohn PirtleDate of Photo2008Map^[1]ContributorMaye Dunn

Shown in this image

Location (city or town)Otira GorgeLandmark (Place)Otira Gorge Rock Shelter and Aqueduct.

Category Information

Category TagRoads

From Facebook

Date Created2019-03-04CommentsJacqueline Pascoe Just went through here this morning

Louise Lockie Chalice Penman

Lana Naisbitt Lisa Lynne Beckman

Jon Eyles
That was a road challenge and real excitement when you got to the top.
Viaduct has kind of taken the thrill out of it

Lee Henderson
Jon Eyles car radiators boiling with river miles away below lol. Smiths cranes boom came round the corner first over my car roof....freaked me out. No lead vehicles in those days. I have video footage of the progress. Its amazing.

Bevan Grooby
Jon Eyles makes a heck of a difference to the fuel going to the Coast,lot easier than it used to be.

Heather Newby
Author
Admin
Amazing engineering

David Carty
When I used to drive it inthe1950s onwards to the 90s there was no shelter or viaduct .just a single lane up to candy's bend.a challenge some times but worth it zig zag and all,

Lee Henderson
The viaduct proposed to the council by James Wylde in late 18c was to keep going past candys bend. All those rocks are piling up....must come down one day.

Phil Wright
Came down the hill in middle of the nite in a huge storm I a while back , actually moved into the middle the viaduct because I thought going to get blown off it!

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Rock Shelter and Reid Falls Aqueduct, Otira Gorge 2008

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