29 Nov 2016

SH1 south from Kaikoura cleared "within fortnight"

From Morning Report, 7:15 am on 29 November 2016
A member of an abseiling crew tidies his rope after descending a large landslide south of Kaikoura.

A member of an abseiling crew tidies his rope after descending a large landslide south of Kaikoura. Photo: RNZ

The contracting company clearing State Highway 1 either side of Kaikoura says the southern section through to Christchurch could be open for essential traffic within a fortnight.

Crews are busy clearing dozens of slips along the highway, some of them containing hundreds of thousands of cubic metres of material.

The Kaikoura Emergency Access Route - the Inland Road - remains closed to uncontrolled access.

But there will be controlled access today for another convoy of 30 vehicles carrying critical infrastructure and welfare supplies.

A final decision on whether the convoy can go or not will be made this morning.