U.S. Highway 101 is expected to open at noon on Saturday, weather permitting after the highway had been closed nearly two weeks by a slide at Hooskanaden Creek, about 12 miles north of Brookings according to a press release from ODOT District Manager Darrin Neavoll.
Tidewater Contractors, Inc., and the Oregon Department of Transportation continue to gain ground on the slide but out of an abundance of caution, they will be unable to get the lane open today (Friday). Tidewater Contractors, Inc. worked hard to try and get it open today (Friday), However, there was just too much to get done.
Over the past two weeks, the Oregon Department of Transportation has been monitoring conditions through the slide area. Ground movement has slowed in recent days. Crews for Tidewater Contractors, Inc. have been working overtime to remove slide debris and place more than 15,000 tons of rock along the path of the highway.
The last thing that needs to be done at this stage is to put a layer of finer rock on the detour to make it ride better. There is also a small slide that has developed to the south of the bigger one and it will need to be addressed to be ready for traffic on Saturday.
The slide is still moving but at a rate that will allow us to maintain it. Please remember we will need to stop traffic from time to time to address that movement but our plan is to keep that under 20 minute delays.
When the highway does open Saturday afternoon, traffic through the slide area will be limited to a single lane on a gravel road surface. Flaggers will provide traffic control and motorists should slow down, expect delays, and drive with caution.
ODOT will continue to monitor the area for ground movement for the next several months.
Please Like, Share and Follow the …