The Kopu-Hikuai Road (State Highway 25A) is to open to one lane this evening, however drivers should expect significant delays as further work is required to open both lanes.

The NZ Transport Agency has reassessed the work plans and a closure will be put in place between 9am and 3pm each day to continue work on clearing the slip.

The road will be open to one lane between 3pm and 9am.

The closure is in place to keep the public safe while diggers remove the debris from the top of the slip and enable more (and bigger) equipment to be used to get the road open to two lanes faster.

"We understand the impact this ongoing closure will have on the public and we apologise in advance for the inconvenience. The closure has been scheduled at a time when traffic is generally lower and commuters and school buses are not travelling," says NZTA.

NZTA expect the road to be open to two lanes by the end of this week, and will provide further updates twice daily by 10am and 4pm.