Wainuiomata Tunnel

Story

The Wainuiomata Tunnel was planned to improve access to the Wainuiomata Valley in the Wellington region of New Zealand’s North Island as part of a scheme to commence residential development there in the 1930s. Construction started in 1932 but was halted several years later when only partly completed due to a lack of funds brought about by economic depression.The tunnel was never opened to road traffic, and other than a brief stint of military service during World War II, remained unused until sold in 1975. Thereafter it was completed as a utility tunnel, initially carrying only a water pipe, but later other services were added.HistoryBackgroundWainui-o-Mata Development Limited was formed for the purpose of developing the Wainuiomata Valley through the acquisition of land, subdivision, and sale of residential lots. An important part of the project was the construction of a tunnel linking the Hutt Valley and Wainuiomata Valley for improving access to the new settlement.PlanningLike the then recently completed Mount Victoria Tunnel in Wellington, the Wainuiomata Tunnel was designed to allow for two lanes of opposing general vehicular traffic with a raised pedestrian pathway on the north side. Starting from a point near the industrial park at Gracefield, it would rise on a gradient of 1 in 15 to emerge at the foot of the hills in Wainuiomata near the existing hill road. It was to be 26ft wide, high, and have a length of. The footpath would be wide, above the floor of the tunnel.