The flood-damaged Ashburton bridge is likely to be open only to light traffic for the time being whilst officials continue to test its structural integrity.
Heavy rainfall caused the foundations to slump 15cm, closing the bridge to heavy vehicles.
Trucks leaving Christchurch will now be forced to take a detour south to Timaru - a journey that would normally take around three hours.
Our cameraman Sam Rillstone and reporter Ella Stewart joined trucks on that road today to look at the wider impact on the South Canterbury community and found the journey took a whole lot longer.
