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Reconstruction of the Otira Gorge road *PHOTO ALBUM*
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Description Reconstruction of the Otira Gorge roadDate of Photo1990sMap[1] ContributorBrian McIntyre
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Location (city or town)Otira Gorge Landmark (Place)Otira Gorge
Category Information
Category TagRoads
From Facebook
CommentsCarl Smith
Awesome set of photos, had no idea some of it was counter levered out from a vertical wall.
Ivan Murray Wilson
Great record.
Leanda Moka
I use to dread going to chch via otira before the viaduct was put through bit of a scary trip had me head into a pillow from the bottom to Arthur's pass
Terry Tez Craze
Part of the job proposal was they allowed for four deaths
Keith Robertson
A great collection of pictures here. Any one know what year it was opened. I note the the high vis team were in action along with the orange cone brigade.
Lee Henderson
Amazing. I have video and photos of it being built. Never forget meeting Smiths Cranes boom on the candys bend zig zags. It just went over my car roof. No escort for it. Will be interesting when the Alpine Fault strikes. Engineer James Wylde proposed it going past Candys Bend in late C18 in a letter to WDC. Sensible idea.
Ken Duncan
still prefer the stair case. sorted the townie drivers out
Roger O'Regan
I reckon this engineering feat is on a par with the viaduct. Both superb, and a testimony to modern engineering.
Neil Richard
Stuff like this this wouldn't happen now
Jess McLeod
Amanda Richardson dad was probably at the top of that crane dangling in a digger ??..
Pauline Schafer
Awesome photos. I wonder if anyone died during its construction, on the original road. It would have been hard work and cold back when it was originally built.
Alan Woods
I'm old enough to remember the old road. Thank you for sharing
Margaret Newcombe
Liam Huse-White these photos may interest you on how the road over Arthurs Pass was modified.
Jakh Heremia
Candy's bend was further up, gone now.? They built a bridge...
Marilyn Ramsay
My husband carted the cement for it
Paul Soster
sorry,not the viaduct,shelter coming down.
Gavin Menzies
World class engineering, fantastic skills at work..
Sandra Mike Moore
What a feat of modern engineering..
Mike Schimanski
That's Candys Bend
y
I remember when this was finished it was rated as a world class engineering feat
Lee Henderson
Amazing. I have video and photos of it being built. Never forget meeting Smiths Cranes boom on the candys bend zig zags. It just went over my car roof. No escort for it. Will be interesting when the Alpine Fault strikes. Engineer James Wylde proposed it going past Candys Bend in late C18 in a letter to WDC. Sensible idea.Ivan Murray Wilson
Great record.
Leanda Moka
I use to dread going to chch via otira before the viaduct was put through bit of a scary trip had me head into a pillow from the bottom to Arthur's pass
Carolyn Smolenski
Incredible work
Renee Boot
Patrick Boot
Neil Richard
Stuff like this this wouldn't happen now
Terry Tez Craze
Part of the job proposal was they allowed for four deaths
Alan Woods
I'm old enough to remember the old road. Thank you for sharing
Jess McLeod
Amanda Richardson dad was probably at the top of that crane dangling in a digger ??..
Christine Russell
Built to last
Roger O'Regan
I reckon this engineering feat is on a par with the viaduct. Both superb, and a testimony to modern engineering.
Lynda Hine
Peter McCutcheon
Pauline Schafer
Awesome photos. I wonder if anyone died during its construction, on the original road. It would have been hard work and cold back when it was originally built.
Margaret Newcombe
Liam Huse-White these photos may interest you on how the road over Arthurs Pass was modified.
Jakh Heremia
LEWIS.
Jakh Heremia
Candy's bend was further up, gone now.? They built a bridge...
Jan Sowman
Brilliant thanks for sharing
Gavin Menzies
World class engineering, fantastic skills at work..
Chalice Penman
A brilliant job done.
Keith Robertson
A great collection of pictures here. Any one know what year it was opened. I note the the high vis team were in action along with the orange cone brigade.
Marilyn Ramsay
My husband carted the cement for it
Natesha Ramsay
Marilyn Ramsay Angela Ramsay Aaron Ramsay
Carl Smith
Awesome set of photos, had no idea some of it was counter levered out from a vertical wall.
Ken Duncan
still prefer the stair case. sorted the townie drivers out
Judy Cardno
Fantastic..
Sandra Mike Moore
What a feat of modern engineering..
Graeme Haika
Lee Henderson
Amazing. I have video and photos of it being built. Never forget meeting Smiths Cranes boom on the candys bend zig zags. It just went over my car roof. No escort for it. Will be interesting when the Alpine Fault strikes. Engineer James Wylde proposed it going past Candys Bend in late C18 in a letter to WDC. Sensible idea.
Karl Pehi
Wasn't much of a plan. The point I was trying to make is no one has worked out when, a week either way would be great,an earthquake will strike. Only then could an effective response be planned.
Karl Pehi
Lee Henderson Been waiting for the Alpine Fault to do something all my life. 66 years, same with the San Andreas Fault in Los Angeles. No one knows what earthquakes are doing. Look at Christchurch no one saw that coming.
Lee Henderson
Karl Pehi they had a plan in case
Brian McIntyre
Author
Lee Henderson was that the one where they decided it would take a force 14 to destroy it
Karl Pehi
Lee Henderson And what was their conclusion.
Lee Henderson
Karl Pehi chc equake risk studies were actually done a few years prior by a sth island university student
Paul Sosorry,not the viaduct,shelter coming down.
Mike Schimanski
That's Candys Bend
Pat Dooley
I remember when this was finished it was rated as a world class engineering feat
Awesome set of photos, had no idea some of it was counter levered out from a vertical wall.
Ivan Murray Wilson
Great record.
Leanda Moka
I use to dread going to chch via otira before the viaduct was put through bit of a scary trip had me head into a pillow from the bottom to Arthur's pass
Terry Tez Craze
Part of the job proposal was they allowed for four deaths
Keith Robertson
A great collection of pictures here. Any one know what year it was opened. I note the the high vis team were in action along with the orange cone brigade.
Lee Henderson
Amazing. I have video and photos of it being built. Never forget meeting Smiths Cranes boom on the candys bend zig zags. It just went over my car roof. No escort for it. Will be interesting when the Alpine Fault strikes. Engineer James Wylde proposed it going past Candys Bend in late C18 in a letter to WDC. Sensible idea.
Ken Duncan
still prefer the stair case. sorted the townie drivers out
Roger O'Regan
I reckon this engineering feat is on a par with the viaduct. Both superb, and a testimony to modern engineering.
Neil Richard
Stuff like this this wouldn't happen now
Jess McLeod
Amanda Richardson dad was probably at the top of that crane dangling in a digger ??..
Pauline Schafer
Awesome photos. I wonder if anyone died during its construction, on the original road. It would have been hard work and cold back when it was originally built.
Alan Woods
I'm old enough to remember the old road. Thank you for sharing
Margaret Newcombe
Liam Huse-White these photos may interest you on how the road over Arthurs Pass was modified.
Jakh Heremia
Candy's bend was further up, gone now.? They built a bridge...
Marilyn Ramsay
My husband carted the cement for it
Paul Soster
sorry,not the viaduct,shelter coming down.
Gavin Menzies
World class engineering, fantastic skills at work..
Sandra Mike Moore
What a feat of modern engineering..
Mike Schimanski
That's Candys Bend
y
I remember when this was finished it was rated as a world class engineering feat
Lee Henderson
Amazing. I have video and photos of it being built. Never forget meeting Smiths Cranes boom on the candys bend zig zags. It just went over my car roof. No escort for it. Will be interesting when the Alpine Fault strikes. Engineer James Wylde proposed it going past Candys Bend in late C18 in a letter to WDC. Sensible idea.Ivan Murray Wilson
Great record.
Leanda Moka
I use to dread going to chch via otira before the viaduct was put through bit of a scary trip had me head into a pillow from the bottom to Arthur's pass
Carolyn Smolenski
Incredible work
Renee Boot
Patrick Boot
Neil Richard
Stuff like this this wouldn't happen now
Terry Tez Craze
Part of the job proposal was they allowed for four deaths
Alan Woods
I'm old enough to remember the old road. Thank you for sharing
Jess McLeod
Amanda Richardson dad was probably at the top of that crane dangling in a digger ??..
Christine Russell
Built to last
Roger O'Regan
I reckon this engineering feat is on a par with the viaduct. Both superb, and a testimony to modern engineering.
Lynda Hine
Peter McCutcheon
Pauline Schafer
Awesome photos. I wonder if anyone died during its construction, on the original road. It would have been hard work and cold back when it was originally built.
Margaret Newcombe
Liam Huse-White these photos may interest you on how the road over Arthurs Pass was modified.
Jakh Heremia
LEWIS.
Jakh Heremia
Candy's bend was further up, gone now.? They built a bridge...
Jan Sowman
Brilliant thanks for sharing
Gavin Menzies
World class engineering, fantastic skills at work..
Chalice Penman
A brilliant job done.
Keith Robertson
A great collection of pictures here. Any one know what year it was opened. I note the the high vis team were in action along with the orange cone brigade.
Marilyn Ramsay
My husband carted the cement for it
Natesha Ramsay
Marilyn Ramsay Angela Ramsay Aaron Ramsay
Carl Smith
Awesome set of photos, had no idea some of it was counter levered out from a vertical wall.
Ken Duncan
still prefer the stair case. sorted the townie drivers out
Judy Cardno
Fantastic..
Sandra Mike Moore
What a feat of modern engineering..
Graeme Haika
Lee Henderson
Amazing. I have video and photos of it being built. Never forget meeting Smiths Cranes boom on the candys bend zig zags. It just went over my car roof. No escort for it. Will be interesting when the Alpine Fault strikes. Engineer James Wylde proposed it going past Candys Bend in late C18 in a letter to WDC. Sensible idea.
Karl Pehi
Wasn't much of a plan. The point I was trying to make is no one has worked out when, a week either way would be great,an earthquake will strike. Only then could an effective response be planned.
Karl Pehi
Lee Henderson Been waiting for the Alpine Fault to do something all my life. 66 years, same with the San Andreas Fault in Los Angeles. No one knows what earthquakes are doing. Look at Christchurch no one saw that coming.
Lee Henderson
Karl Pehi they had a plan in case
Brian McIntyre
Author
Lee Henderson was that the one where they decided it would take a force 14 to destroy it
Karl Pehi
Lee Henderson And what was their conclusion.
Lee Henderson
Karl Pehi chc equake risk studies were actually done a few years prior by a sth island university student
Paul Sosorry,not the viaduct,shelter coming down.
Mike Schimanski
That's Candys Bend
Pat Dooley
I remember when this was finished it was rated as a world class engineering feat
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West Coast New Zealand History (8th Oct 2025). Reconstruction of the Otira Gorge road *PHOTO ALBUM*. In Website West Coast New Zealand History. Retrieved 20th Mar 2026 02:56, from https://westcoast.recollect.co.nz/nodes/view/35429