Rocks have been placed where chunks of State Highway1 near Kaikōura were eaten away by floodwaters earlier this week. PHOTO: NZTA

Work is continuing to remove rock and vegetation for the safe reopening of a badly damaged highway near Kaikōura.

State Highway1 remains closed from Cheviot in North Canterbury to Kaikōura after severe flooding last week, while SH70/Inland Kaikōura Road also remained shut.

A detour route via State Highways 7, 65, 6 and 63 is still available.

NZ Transport Agency Waka Kotahi (NZTA) said in a statement work continued to remove hazards at the site where rocks and vegetation came down on the closed section of highway last week.

‘‘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.’’

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.

Tomorrow was still expected to be the earliest date 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 today.

‘‘NZTA 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 landslips in the area.

While heavy rain had eased and floodwaters were receding, people needed to be alert to signs of slips around their properties and the wider district and should evacuate if their homes were at risk, it said.

Meanwhile, 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 this morning. — Allied Media