Arthur's Pass highway remains closed
State Highway 73 between Christchurch and the West Coast is unlikely to be re-opened until Saturday while contractors deal with a massive slip.
The highway between Arthur's Pass and Jacksons was closed by the slip early on Thursday morning when a storm hit the South Island, closing a number of roads on the Coast and in Canterbury.
While other roads had re-opened, the New Zealand Transport Agency says SH73 will remain closed on Friday.
Due to slips, flooding and fallen trees SH73 Arthurs Pass will remain closed until at least Saturday https://t.co/LFIOAMcQOd ^LT pic.twitter.com/E7yVGT2l4Z
— NZTA Canterbury/WC (@NZTACWC) January 19, 2017
More information would be available on Saturday and it was unlikely the highway would re-open before then, the agency said.
Photos showed debris several metres deep had blocked the road and covered the adjacent railway lines.
– With NZN