Unfortunately, U.S. 101 will likely remain closed near Brookings for a few more days. Oregon Department of Transportation crews and Tidewater Contractors have mobilized equipment and are standing ready to rebuild a quarter mile of U.S. 101 after the Hooskanaden Slide closed the highway 12 miles north of Brookings on Monday.
Earlier in the week, the ground had been moving more than 2 feet an hour, resulting in enormous cracks in the road surface and a 10-foot dropoff. Movement decreased to about 11 inches an hour yesterday afternoon, but we need it to slow to 3 inches an hour, before crews will begin pouring rock and rebuilding the roadway to get at least a single lane open.
Meanwhile, a related problem has surfaced uphill from the highway. The initial slide blocked the natural path of a creek on the hillside, shifting the runoff into the middle of the slide and causing the ground to become saturated and less stable. Work is currently underway to reestablish the original channel and direct water away from the slide.
State Representative David Brock Smith and Curry County Commissioner Court Boice have been working with our Local, State and Federal partners on prioritizing this serious situation impacting the residents of Curry County.
“We have been in contact with the Governor Brown’s Office and appreciate her quick response in declaring Curry County as one of the Counties included in her County Emergency Declaration”, said Rep. David Brock Smith (R-Port Orford). “We have also been in contact with Congressman DeFazio’s Office asking for his assistance, as he is well positioned as the Chairman of Transportation.”
There have been fuel and food shortages in South County as large truck traffic has been limited on the Carpentersville Road detour due to their size and weight threatening the road integrity and passenger vehicle safety.
“We are doing all we can; considering the slide area is still moving, and I appreciate the Sheriff’s, ODOT’s and our partner’s quick response and coordination,” said Curry County Commissioner Court Boice. “Tidewater has been on sight working on the slide and doing what they can under the dangerous conditions, as the entire area is still extremely unstable.”
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