The cordon around Christchurch's earthquake-damaged central city has been further reduced on Friday.
The opening of the area north of Gloucester Street is the first in a four-week reduction programme, at the end of which most of the central city roads and footpaths will be accessible and safe for the public to use.
Areas that will continue to have restrictions are subject to specific site works or traffic management systems.
Canterbury Earthquake Recovery Authority chief executive Roger Sutton says opening the city as much as possible, as fast as possible, gives everyone a boost.
The city council says it supports opening the cordon, even though all the repair work has not yet been completed.
