A rock slip near Arthur's Pass this morning closed State Highway 73 for much of the day after knocking out out a large section of guardrail.
The slip at the Otira Gorge rock shelter, between Arthur's Pass to Otira, deposited about 200cubic metres of rock on the road.
The highway was completely closed at the slip this morning but had reopened to one lane of traffic by this evening.
Otira Hotel owner Lester Rowntree said things had been "dead" after the slip occurred about 8am.
He was surprised there was a slip when the weather had been so good.
