Driving home for Christmas: SH1 opening date revealed OLIVER LEWISNorth Canterbury Transport Infrastructure Recovery alliance crews opened up a working track around Ohau Point last week. An opening date for State Highway 1, north of Kaikoura, has been let slip at an election campaign event in Blenheim. There were 10 major slips north of the coastal town that reached down to the level of the road and rail. Transport Minister Simon Bridges has repeatedly said SH1 would be re-opened by Christmas, however many questioned what exactly 'open' would look like given the devastation. The total cost to restore the earthquake-damaged road and rail networks around Kaikoura was between $1.1 billion and $1.33b.

Source: Stuff August 24, 2017 02:56 UTC