CHRISTCHURCH CITY COUNCIL MEDIA RELEASE
24 May 2009

Two-way traffic expected to be reinstated today

Two-way traffic in and out of Sumner is expected to be reinstated later this afternoon after a slip closed a section of the Main Road into the seaside suburb yesterday.

Engineers have been on site again this morning assessing the cliff face where 100 cubic metres of Council reserve land subsided early yesterday morning on to Main Road reducing traffic to a single lane.

Christchurch City Council Transport and Greenspace Manager Alan Beuzenberg says with the rain continuing, work will not begin until tomorrow (Monday) on clearing the slip, just opposite the Sumner Surf Life Saving Club.

"We are looking at re-laning the affected section of road this afternoon to reinstate two-way traffic."

While there has been no further subsidence in the last 24 hours, Mr Beuzenberg says as a precautionary measure the residents of the two homes on The Spur above the slip who were evacuated last night will not return home until tomorrow evening at the earliest.

"The engineers are wanting to undertake some further assessment work on the cliff face tomorrow. Once this occurs, it is expected the area will be declared safe and the residents will be able to return to home."

He says the health and safety of residents is always the top priority with incidents of this nature. 

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