Photo:ODOT
ODOT and Tidewater Contractors have begun clearing debris at the north end of the Hooskanaden Slide, which closed U.S. 101 about 12 miles north of Brookings on Monday, February 25.
Over the weekend, the ground movement downhill had slowed to about six inches an hour, a significant improvement from a week earlier when the ground was slipping an average of two feet an hour.
As soon as the ground movement slows to about three inches an hour, Tidewater will place rock along the quarter-mile section of displaced roadway and open at least one lane to traffic. The rock placement work may take 24 to 48 hours.
Most of the movement observed over the weekend occurred at the south end of the slide area. Tidewater has begun removing debris from the north end, which has seen less movement and is considered more stable. ODOT will continue to monitor ground movement, and Tidewater will gradually continue south as conditions permit.
Slides are a common occurrence in winter when the south Oregon coast receives heavy rain, and the Hooskanaden area often requires frequent paving and patching to repair cracks caused by ground movement.
Source: ODOT