Yesterday, the New Zealand Transport Agency, state highway contractor Downer and MWH Global engineering representatives met farmers who own land at the flood channels which failed to cope with heavy rain at the end of April, closing SH1 twice.
They discussed both short- and long-term solutions to the problem, which has become more frequent since 2010.
Waitaki Plains farmer Bill Pile showed the Otago Daily Times earlier this month where the problem was, saying he believed it could be remedied by cleaning out flood channels, then maintaining them.
Yesterday, Mr Pile, who was at the meeting, welcomed the news work would start next week, saying ''action at last''.
He, with other farmers bordering the flood channels, explained how the flooding had occurred, where water flowed and what they believed was impeding the flow.
That included flood channels and drainage ditches overgrown with grass and other vegetation.
The NZTA's coastal Otago network manager, Marcos Santana, said yesterday that, rather than debating who was responsible for what, ''a pragmatic approach'' had been adopted.
Work had been approved to start next week to clear flood channels and drains and provide more roadside drainage on the west side of the highway.
That had been granted resource consent by the Otago Regional Council.
The project was also sped up by farmers allowing the excavated material to be stockpiled on their properties rather than having to be carted away.
Mr Santana estimated the work could take at least two weeks, depending on weather conditions and what was found.
At the same time, the NZTA would meet the regional council, Waitaki District Council and Lower Waitaki Irrigation Company to discuss who was responsible for what and a permanent solution.
As an example of the complexity of the situation, the flood channel was originally put in by the former Waitaki Catchment Commission, the responsibility for it passing to the Otago Regional Council at a later date.
