Big slip closes State Highway 1 and railway tracks near Blenheim

1.00pm

A massive landslide across State Highway 1 south of Blenheim blocked the main South Island highway this morning.

The slip, 5km north of Kekerengu, happened about 4.30am and was still moving later this morning as tonnes of clay continued to push towards the sea covering the road and railway tracks.

By mid-morning about 30 freight trucks and numerous private passenger vehicles were lined up on both sides of the slip, awaiting some sign of earth-moving machinery. Two freight trains and the Trans Coastal train were delayed.

The force of the slip pushed the track towards the sea. Rail operator Toll said it would not know the extent of the damage until the slip was clear.

Police southern communication centre said it was hoped to have the road open by lunchtime, but some people at the slip were predicting it would be much later.

Christchurch truck driver Murray Roberts, whose vehicle hit the slip about 5am, estimated it could be 5pm before the highway was re-opened and safe to use.

On a general delivery run from Christchurch to Nelson via Blenheim, he said the first he knew of the slip was when he drove over the brow of the hill and saw something white in front.

"I thought what the hell? Where am I, and slammed on the brakes."

With 16 tonnes of freight on behind, his truck and trailer unit slowed, and stopped, just bumping the slip. It happened too quickly to feel scared, said the veteran driver.

Another Christchurch truck driver, known as Steadly, said the slip had "completely screwed" his day.

He said he was on his way from Christchurch to Picton this morning when he was stopped by the slip about 4.45am. The slip, which at first was only on the road, slowly moved across on to the railway tracks.

"The magnitude of it's hard to imagine," he said.

"It's not a slip it's a landslide -- it's a whole hill that has come down."

About 15 trucks were lined up this morning on the southern side of the slip and some of the truck drivers had made their way to the store at Kekerengu for breakfast, Steadly said.

He said four wheel drive vehicles were still driving around the outside of the slip over the railway tracks this morning.

Transit New Zealand North Canterbury area engineer Barry Stratton said the slip was still moving at mid-morning.

Earth moving equipment from Kaikoura was already on the job and there was more help going to the area from Blenheim and Christchurch, he said.

The site was renowned for slipping but there had been no major subsidence there in about 10 years, he said.

"It would have just been the rain that brought it all down," Mr Stratton said.

"We can't control nature but it is important we get it open as soon as possible because the alternative route through the Lewis Pass is a long way."

He could not estimate the size of the slip but said it was considerable and would take some heavy machinery such as diggers and loaders to clear.

Marlborough Roads manager Frank Porter said there may have been other small slips around the Marlborough region associated with the heavy rain but he was not aware of any this morning. He said contractor Works Infrastructure had been sent to help clear the Kekerengu slip.

A Works Infrastructure Kaikoura spokesperson said local contractors Ford Bros went to help clear the slip with their large diggers, and gear had been sent from Works Infrastructure in Blenheim too.

The three shingle fan detour bridges on State Highway 1 north of Clarence were opened due to the over night rain as well.

Gill Construction Kaikoura spokesman Ian Honeybone said the transport firm's Seddon depot had been affected by the slip.

Seddon staff had been due to come down to Kekerengu to shift stock but have had to put it off. The slip had affected all transport operators, he said.

"We've only got one truck coming home from the North Island, he will sit (at the roadblock) until the road's open," Mr Honeybone said.


- NZPA