Concerted efforts by NZ Transport Agency Waka Kotahi (NZTA) crews in South Westland will have SH6 fully reopened tonight at 6pm (Friday April 12).

All state highways throughout the West Coast will then be open and accessible.

“Crews started the temporary repair as soon as rain abated earlier today and with the creek level dropping, they were able to better assess what needed to be done," system manager for NZTA, Canterbury and the West Coast Mark Pinner said.

"In this case we were lucky, the damage caused was not as bad as we had feared when the creek was overtopping the area.”

Mark said crews have managed a single-lane temporary road (between Fox Glacier and Franz Josef village at Smithy's Creek) which will open at 6pm today and will be monitored over the weekend before crews return on Monday for a permanent fix.

Travellers can expect delays of up to 30 minutes at Smithy’s Creek bridge for this weekend.

Drivers need to take care given the recent flooding and slips and drive to the conditions, NZTA said.