Access to Milford Sound village via State Highway 94 would be available for people who work and live there by late today, the New Zealand Transport Agency (NZTA) said.
Contractor Downer EDI Works aimed to clear one lane of the highway for essential traffic by 4pm or 5pm.
A landslip came down from Mt Underwood on Tuesday and buried about 200m of the only road to the township. The lane was likely to be closed again as a safety precaution tonight and reopen at daybreak tomorrow.
NZTA regional network manager for Otago-Southland, Murray Clarke, said it would take another three to five days before debris was removed completely and the highway repaired. The operation was estimated to cost $130,000.
The 200m-long, 40m-wide and 2m-deep slip blocked the highway west of Homer Tunnel and about 5km from the Milford Sound township.
Milford Sound Lodge manager Richard Sands said the community of about 100 was not too worried about being cut off by road. Residents were well used to natural events and the slip had meant a few extra days off for some staff, he said.
"We only get a haulage truck with supplies one day a week, on Wednesdays, anyway. We're probably one of the best-equipped areas in New Zealand for this sort of thing.
"When the pub runs out of beer, that's when we start to worry."
Mr Sands said bookings for the week had been cancelled and many could not be rearranged as tourists were on tight itineraries.
Real Journeys was redirecting tourists to the steamship Earnslaw cruise to Walter Peak, Doubtful Sound or the glow-worm caves in Te Anau.
Chief executive Dave Hawkey said some visitors managed to get into Milford Sound by fixed-wing aircraft and there had been helicopter transfers from the Chasm during breaks in the weather.
There were nine contractors staying at the lodge who were being flown to and from the cleanup site.
