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Work is continuing to remove rock and vegetation to allow the safe reopening of a badly damaged highway near Kaikōura in the South Island.
State Highway 1 remains closed from Cheviot in North Canterbury to Kaikōura after severe flooding this week, while Inland Route 70/Inland Kaikōura Road to the west of Kaikōura also remained shut.
A detour route via State Highways 7, 65, 6 and 63 is available.
The New Zealand Transport Agency/Waka Kotahi said in a statement today the removal of the slip hazards is at the site where rocks and vegetation came down on the closed section of highway on Friday.
"This will increase the safety and resilience for access once reopened. The loss of part of the road in the flooding has resulted in a narrower roading corridor being prepared for the initial access required.
"This removal of the hazardous rock and vegetation is in addition to the ongoing work placing rock where the road has been eaten away by floodwaters in the recent weather event, so that the road can be reinstated."
On Saturday, roading crews focused on placing rock where SH1 had been eaten away by high river levels and flooding near Hawkswood/Ferniehurst, and clearing debris and fallen trees on the road in the Hundalee Hills area, a spokesman for NZTA said.
Tuesday was still expected to be the earliest day that the highway could reopen, he said.
"Initial restrictions, once reopened, are likely to include sections of the highway down to a single lane where road users will have to stop on demand."
The agency expected to give an update on the road on Monday.
"New Zealand Transport Agency/Waka Kotahi thanks people for their patience and understanding as roading crews work around the clock to get to a point where it is safe to reopen.
"Even after reopening, work will need to continue on this section of highway, including in the Conway River alongside the highway once the river level has dropped sufficiently."
On Saturday, the Kaikōura District Council warned there was a continuing risk of landslides in the area.
It said while heavy rain had eased and floodwaters were receding, people need to be alert to signs of slips around their properties and the wider district, and should evacuate if their homes were at risk.
Icy roads warning
Icy roading conditions continue to create challenging driving conditions on some state highways around the South Island.
Area warnings remain in place for multiple state highways, and people were asked to travel with extra care, especially late at night and early mornings when the ice risk was greatest.
There was an elevated risk of black ice, freezing fog and hoar frosts in the Mackenzie Basin through to Monday morning.
- Allied Media