More than 1000 men and women are working to repair the quake-damaged highway and rail route along the Kaikoura coast.

It is the "biggest job in New Zealand" according to Peter "Thommo" Thompson, Site Supervisor, and one of 1000 men and women working to repair the quake-damaged highway and rail route along the Kaikoura coast.

Massive slips, triggered by last November's 7.8 magnitude earthquake, dumped more than 700,000 cubic metres of material – rock, soil and shingle – much of it onto State Highway 1.

Bridges are being built, debris cleared, and whole sections of SH1 and the rail line realigned. The work is constant, on occasion through the night, and though the sea views are magnificent, the winter environment is inhospitable.

FRANK FILM Drone footage reveals the magnitude of the task that remains on the quake-wrecked SH1.

Thommo told his workers upfront, "it'll be the hardest job of their life".

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Skilled Labourer, Josh Kriel, says he works in the shade most of the day.

JOHN VASTA Bridges are being built, debris cleared, and whole sections of road and rail are being realigned to reconnect State Highway 1 along the South Island coast.

Hammerhand, Edan Wood, is working 12 hour shifts, but both teenage workers say it's "good money."

Cathy Hunt agrees. She has come from Waikato to drive a dump truck, hauling debris from the site where it fell, to another spot just down the road. Thompson estimates half of fallen material is being re-utilised in the project.

Hunt has driven trucks for 30 years, but this is the first earthquake project she has worked on and is enjoying the challenge.

"It's beautiful some days when you are waiting to be loaded just to sit and watch the waves."

In May, North Canterbury Transport & Infrastructure Recovery, NCTIR – pronounced "nectar" – estimated the works would cost more than $1 billion, potentially $1.33b.

While the earthquake heaped much economic stress on the tourist town, a silver lining has emerged with many local contractors and residents taken on to help with the road and rail repairs.

Shelly Riddell is one of them. Before the earthquake she sold crayfish at the popular Nin's Bin caravan, at Rakautara, north of Kaikoura. Now, she mans the checkpoint right opposite her quake-damaged home, noting down the number plates of vehicles entering and leaving the "red zone" – "in case there's another shake".

Project overseers remain confident the road and rail will be open for Christmas traffic and say the work is on schedule.

Right now, the end of the road is at slip 6, Ohau Point, just above the seal colony.

Once that slip is cleared, roading crews will move in to resurrect the main highway.

From the southern end, the debris pile at Ohau looks to be diminishing, the end in sight.

The drone footage reveals what is waiting on the other side ...