The NZ Transport Agency closed the road - State Highway 6 - yesterday, and in an update this morning said the road would remain closed all day today and tomorrow morning.
The NZTA said its geotechnical engineer had undertaken a preliminary assessment which showed it was "not straightforward to remedy today".
“Scaling of loose material from the rock face will take longer to complete than originally thought. Rain on site today is also slowing progress, and we must ensure that abseilers working on the face of the slip are safe. A further update will be provided at 12pm tomorrow (Wednesday).”
The highway was closed to all traffic yesterday after the rockfall, triggered by recent rain, blocked both lanes.
Clarke Bluff has had rockfall in the past. It is at a narrow point on SH6 between Haast township and the top of the Haast Pass with no room on the side of the road for traffic to get past safely.
