However, the New Zealand Transport Agency is urging motorists to take extra care on State Highway 6 through the gorge and to expect delays today while contractors clear debris at Crawford's Hill, 2km west of Roaring Meg, as well as the many minor rockfalls and small landslips covering the road in both directions.
Rocks fell across State Highway 6 at Crawford's Hill, Kawarau Gorge, on Saturday at 6.30am, reducing the road to a single lane, before the NZTA closed the road entirely due to safety concerns at 2pm.
Contractors had to clear debris including boulders the size of cars to allow the road to be reopened.
Northbound traffic was forced to take a detour over the Crown Range Rd.
Contractors were working to keep the Crown Range Rd clear of snow, but chains were deemed essential and heavy vehicles were prohibited.
Central Otago NZTA area manager John Jarvis told the Otago Daily Times ''a successful day'' of uninterrupted work yesterday by contractors to remove hazardous materials meant the highway could reopen.
Opus Geotech staff worked through the day in conjunction with abseilers and a helicopter doing a sluicing operation.
Mr Jarvis said there was good co-ordination between contractors, the Queenstown Lakes District Council and the NZTA.
Constant rain and a 4degC temperature made work uncomfortable but the extra water helped the sluicing.
A Heliworks helicopter made repeated trips yesterday, dropping tonnes of water, taken from the Kawarau River, from its monsoon bucket to dislodge loose debris and wash away fine material from the rock face.
Abseilers used compressed air jacks to dislodge loose rocks and prevent further rockfalls.
Mr Jarvis said there had been other rockfalls, but not as significant, at the Devil's Staircase on Kingston Rd and on State Highway 8 at Lindis Pass.
Nevis Bluff, near Gibbston, remained intact last night.
State Highway 94 between Te Anau and Milford Sound was closed yesterday because of rockfalls and snow. That closure will be reviewed this morning.
