SH1 south of Kaikoura set to reopen

Relief is in sight for motorists stranded on State Highway 1 south of Kaikoura.

The NZ Transport Agency (NZTA) said it would open SH1 to one lane of traffic for brief periods throughout the day to allow stranded motorists to pass through and allow the backlog of traffic to clear.

NZTA said the brief openings would occur on the hour throughout the rest of the day.

The highway has been closed for the last two nights due to a large slip that fell on Thursday night.

Motorists are urged to drive with extreme caution as there are a number of slips in the Kaikoura region.

All other highways in the South Island are open but motorists are urged to drive with extreme caution and expect some delays.

- NZPA