National Highway 10, the principal highway that connects Sikkim and Kalimpong with the rest of the country, remained closed for traffic even on Friday.

Officials of the state PWD (NH X division) engaged earthmovers to cut down the rock to create space for building an interim stretch of road at Birick Dara, located around 40km from here under Kalimpong district, throughout the day.

A stretch of the highway has caved in at the site due to incessant rainfall on Tuesday, leaving little space for vehicles to move.

“The work is in progress and we expect to open it soon, at least for light vehicles,” said a source in the state PWD.

In Siliguri, officials of the state PWD (NH IX division) said on Friday that they are planning to install a Bailey bridge along the damaged portion of the bridge over the Balason river so that vehicular movement can be restored along the route.