A helicopter is used to sluice the face of a slip above State Highway 6 near Makarora on Wednesday. Photo by Mark Price.
The slip of between 1000 and 2000 cubic metres came down a week ago, blocking both lanes.
One lane was opened the following day but Opus senior geotechnical engineer Rob Bond said on Wednesday efforts were still being made to stabilise the bluff above the road to allow diggers to begin removing the material.
Mr Bond expected it would take three days to cart the spoil away.