Radio New Zealand - Te Reo Irirangi o Aotearoa

Lyttelton tunnel reopens

Updated at 8:16 am on 9 September 2010

The Lyttelton road tunnel reopened on Wednesday after checks of cracks in the wake of another aftershock.

It was closed until its safety could be guaranteed.

The aftershock, at 7.49am, measured 5.1 on the Richter scale.

The shock was extremely shallow, at a depth of 5km, and was centred close to Lyttelton. It caused cracking in the tunnel and the Transport Agency says a full inspection was made.

Lyttelton's port remains operational, though some employees were unable to get to work because of the tunnel's closure.

Port of Lyttelton chief executive Peter Davie says it is assessing facilities after every big shake.

Mr Davie says the priority is keeping the port operational so essential food, fuel and other supplies needed by Christchurch can get through.

He says staff are working under extreme stress in order to keep the port running.

The 1.9km tunnel linking Christchurch and the port was opened in 1964.

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