Access to Westport remains limited after large slips closed two of the main highways into the coastal town.
It is hoped the slip on Upper Buller Gorge road will be cleared so that motorists can use it in daytime hours as soon as it is safe. Photo: Supplied / Waka Kotahi
A substantial slip at Meybille Bay, north of Punakaiki and another inland at Lyell in the Upper Buller Gorge, both on State Highway six, mean those roads will remain closed.
The detour into Westport today is via the Shenandoah, the Lewis Pass/Springs Junction and Reefton for people travelling south from Nelson.
The Upper Buller Gorge route through Lyell has been closed since Sunday when torrential rain set off the slip, it will be reassessed on Saturday morning.
Yesterday Waka Kotahi said once the road reopened, traffic would be restricted to daylight hours, 8am to 5pm, to allow the transport agency to monitor slip activity over the day.
An update on the Meybille Bay slip is expected at 5pm.