A dawn service has marked the reopening of the coastal highway destroyed in last year's Kaikoura earthquake.

State Highway 1 is re-opening this afternoon more than a year after a 7.8 magnitude quake rocked the seaside town.

The coastal highway link between Picton and Christchurch was badly damaged during the November 2016 quake and will now re-open for daylight hours.

Work on the route has involved the removal of a million-cubic metres of material, and the clearing of 10 major slips.

"It's been an amazing project to be part of. You don';t usually build things this quickly. The guys we've got on site are extremely proud."

Seawalls have been constructed, roads realigned and new bridges built, as well, more than 4,000 seals have had to be professionally removed from work sites.

Clark Butcher, another project manager with North Canterbury Transport Infrastructure Recovery, said the reconstruction of Ohau Point has been very challenging because of its shape and steepness.

"Portions of that wall have been built in the last three weeks, from foundation right up to full height, so our crew have done an amazing job."

Work will continue right up to the last minute before traffic's allowed through.

Butcher said 36 hours of continuous rain slowed works down a little, forcing them to use some unusual techniques to get the pavements dry.

"The helicopters have been used to get a bit of breeze on our pavement so that we can get it rolled up and dried up. It's worked amazingly."

Butcher said had they not had so much rain, getting the road ready would have been a breeze.

But drivers are being reminded two areas of the SH1 will still close overnight from 8.30pm until 7am.

- with content from NZ Newswire