Businesses flourishing in Kaikōura as road access restored

Full access in and out of Kaikōura has been given for the first time since the November 2016 earthquake.

State Highway 1 is now open 24 hours a day, which has come as good news to locals and motorists.

Freight trucks were bumper to bumper on Monday slowly making their way along SH1, but it was the last day they'd be stuck travelling during busy daytime hours.

The highway was slow and down to single lanes in several places - a sign that the repair job job is far from over. The project is still months, if not years, from being fully completed.

It was just over four months ago the road opened to North, a relief for the small seaside township that relies heavily on its tourists.

Cooper's Catch owner Jason Hill said business has since climbed above pre-quake levels, and it doubled on the day that the road reopened.

The reopening has marked a major milestone on Kaikōura's road to recovery.

Newshub.