A small Otago township is being urged to sit tight as contractors plan to work away at clearing a major slip over the next few days.

A section of Beach Road has been temporarily closed off following a cliff side collapse just north of Kakanui on Saturday.

Traffic diversions have been since been put in place.

Council spokesman Neil Jorgensen says the limestone shelf to the north of the slip appears to have collapsed due to a build up of recent heavy rain.

He says they're hoping to have a single lane open to motorists by Saturday.