Slip closes SH1, railway south of Kaikoura

GREG DEBENHAM

SLIP: A massive amount of earth covers the highway and railway tracks, out to the sea. Photo taken Saturday morning.

SLIP: Rockfall covers the highway.

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The New Zealand Transport Agency (NZTA) won't know until Monday how long it will take to clear a large landslide that has closed State Highway 1 south of Kaikoura and blocked the railway line, cutting off a major link for quake-damaged Canterbury.

The highway and Main North line were closed late last following the slip at Peketa, 8km from Kaikoura, in which an estimated 15,000 cubic metres of soil fell on to the road and railway lines down to the sea.

The possibility that the slip was caused by the recent earthquakes is not being ruled out, or it may have been triggered by heavy rainfall.

The 100 metre-long slip was in a difficult site, making it hard to say when it would be cleared, NZTA Canterbury State Highways Operations Manager Peter Connors said.

It was not an option for contractors to work through the night, because of the demanding terrain and the slip's instability.

"The NZTA realises the importance of getting this key route open quickly, but that cannot occur until we are confident there is no risk to road users," Mr Connors said.

The roading agency hoped to know by Monday morning how long it would take to clear the landslide.

It was too early to estimate the cost of clearing the slip and restoring the highway.

KiwiRail is moving freight by road between Blenheim and Christchurch, and is assessing other options.

By midnight tonight, five freight trains will have been affected by the slip, including one northbound train that had to be returned to Christchurch, and a train that was on the lines at the time and had to be secured near Kaikoura, the KiwiRail spokeswoman told NZPA.

Goods have been held in Wellington and Christchurch while alternative transport is organised.

"The focus is on getting freight to Christchurch as quickly as we can," she said.

Staff would work into the night loading goods at KiwiRail's Spring Creek facility, 6km from Blenheim, to get freight south by road.

The TranzCoastal passenger service has been replaced by buses.

Motorists travelling between Christchurch and Picton are advised to allow plenty of time for their trips due to diversions.

Cars are being diverted on to the inland Kaikoura Rd, while heavy transport vehicles are being re-routed via the Lewis Pass.

- NZPA