State Highway 1 north of Kaikōura is now back open, shortening the journey to and from Picton.
But that doesn't mean the end of the road for the alternate route through the Lewis Pass which has been crucial since the November 2016 earthquake.
Heavy traffic volumes are still expected on the alternate 478km stretch of highway.
"The alternate route remains a really reliable route from Picton so I guess our advice is if you are catching a ferry or have a set time frame the alternate route is definitely a reliable journey," says Tresca Forrester, journey manager for the North Canterbury Transport Infrastructure Recovery alliance.
In the last year more than 600 trucks have used the road every day - the New Zealand Trucking Association doesn't expect those numbers to drop off.
"The feedback we're getting from a lot of the industry is that a lot of transport operators will keep using the alternative route because it's a known quantity," says NZ Trucking Association chief executive Dave Boyce.
Police say they're continuing to have a visible presence along the road and behaviour like dangerous overtaking will not be tolerated.
"With the increase in trucks and reducing the average speed some people get impatient and that can lead to some really scary over taking manoeuvres," says Sergeant Lachy Garrick.
To try and combat that, the Government is also spending $60 million upgrading the road. They have spent about $40 million so far.
"We're widening the road at different places, we're putting passing and stopping bays in," says Ms Forrester.
"It gives more opportunities for slower drivers and truck drivers to be passed."
This means a safe and timely journey for motorists and truck drivers alike for the upcoming summer holidays.
Newshub.
