"... Following detailed investigation and an independent review, there is now confidence that restrictions in place at the Highcliff Road slip site at Pukehiki can be relaxed." the Dunedin City Council told local residents this morning," an update to local residents said this morning.
The large slip took a large bite out of the road during the June floods and ensnared two passing cars, whose drivers escaped serious injury.
Since then the section of the road between Camp Rd and Sealpoint Rd has been closed to the public, with controlled access past the slip for residents only.
Transport Projects team leader Gareth Evans said in the update it was thought due to the slip being within the extents of a previously mapped landslide and elevated groundwater conditions, but further investigation and a detailed review found the most likely cause of slip "reactivation" was siginficant, sustained rainfall.
The slip was being monitored, and access could be re-evealuated if groundwater and geological conditions changed.
The council expected detailed designs for a permanent fix by the end of the week, and tenders would go out next month.
