Kaikoura slip expected to be cleared tomorrow

The slip is thought to have been caused by heavy rain, rather, rather than the Christchurch earthquake. The NZ Transport Agency hopes to have one lane opened by Thursday. Photo / NZTA

At least one lane of State Highway One south of Kaikoura is expected to reopen by tomorrow afternoon after being closed by a slip last Friday.

The New Zealand Transport Agency said crews were continuing to clear the estimated 30,000 cubic metres of debris from the slip.

NZTA Canterbury state highways operations manager Peter Connors said crews had worked 24 hours a day since the slip was stabilised on Monday night, and had made good progress.

"We know the importance to the region of getting this key freight route opened as soon as possible and we are working around the clock to make it happen. We're confident that we will have at least one lane of the highway open to traffic by around 4pm tomorrow."

Mr Connors said workers had been using diggers to remove material from near the top of the slip face since early yesterday, and had now worked their way well down the face.

Caution is being exercised removing debris from the bottom of the slip, to ensure it continues to provide a safe working platform for diggers and other machinery on top. Crews will again work through the night as part of the push to get the road open by 4pm tomorrow.

A detour to Christchurch via Route 70, otherwise known as the inland Kaikoura Route, is available for light vehicles, as well as buses and trucks weighing less than 22 tonnes and not towing trailers. This road is not suitable for heavier and longer vehicles, which must continue using State Highway 63 through the Wairau Valley and State Highway 7 through the Lewis Pass to travel south to Christchurch.