Work is taking place over May by Fulton Hogan and contractors on building a concrete ‘wash-over’ ford on Jack Lovelock Track, near Fairlie.
This road is well used by pedestrians, cyclists, and four-wheel drive vehicles, although becomes impassable when the ford is flooded, often requiring remedial work before being passable again.
The current contour of the existing ford limits the vehicles that are able to cross it when dry.
While this work is taking place, a bridge on Nixons Road, at the end of its working life, will be replaced by a ‘wash-over’ ford.
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Earthworks for both fords will be done by High Country Earthworks, while Lakes Construction will do boxing and concrete work.
Work underway on Jack Lovelock Track ford - May 2024
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Jack Lovelock Track is named after New Zealand athlete Jack Lovelock (1910-1949). Jack grew up in Fairlie between 1919 and 1923, and was Dux at Fairlie Primary School. He went on to achieve New Zealand’s first gold medal for athletics at the 1936 Olympic Games in Berlin, Germany.