Photo by Photo Submitted
CLEANUP ACCOMPLISHED – The site of the Robert Service Way slide is seen Thursday morning, as the cleanup was in its late stages. Photo courtesy CITY OF WHITEHORSE
Wall installation set for slide site
Initial cleanup of the Apr. 30 mudslide along Robert Service Way is essentially complete.
Initial cleanup of the Apr. 30 mudslide along Robert Service Way is essentially complete.
Construction of a metal sheet piling wall was set to begin today, the city said Thursday.
Construction is anticipated to last approximately seven to 10 days, weather permitting.
The roadway is expected to reopen following construction – but with temporary traffic controls in place.
The affected section of the Millennium Trail will remain closed until further notice, the city said.
Areas of the escarpment have continued to show signs of significant activity, including new and growing tension cracks, and slumping.
The city and its geotechnical engineers actively monitor the entire escarpment, and respond to any slide events.
Because of the uncertainty around the stability of the escarpment, the city has closed the area at the bottom of the clay cliffs between Taylor and Hanson Streets.
Fencing has been put up all along the closed area with signs indicating the area is dangerous, and for people to stay out.
If you witness a slide, report it to the city’s trouble line at 667-2111.
“We thank the public for their patience and co-operation during this time,” the city said.
See letter.
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Comments (5)
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Apex Parasite on Jun 2, 2022 at 10:26 am
I'm no engineer but water saturated soil in a vertically sensitive context combined with vibrations from construction and or pile driving seems like perhaps a risky plan.
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Nathan Living on May 31, 2022 at 8:05 pm
There was a dry slide today which opposes the water saturation narrative.
The Robert Service Way is not safe and the road will be opened up.
We do need a solution to the constant threat water saturation or no water saturation.
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Groucho d'North on May 30, 2022 at 9:30 am
I get the feeling we'll still be talking about this situation in September. I submit that it is not a mud or silt/sand problem, but it is a water problem. Also it's not what you can see on the cliff surface like tension cracks, and slumping, but rather the movement and erosion force of water flowing behind the escarpment surface. The gathering water needs a way to get to the river without passing through all the glacial till that makes up the cliffs. A catchment manifold up at the airport area feeding drain pipes to the river would probably work well but at what cost?
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Jake on May 29, 2022 at 6:36 am
Wouldn't surprise me Wilf, I see a packer running back and forth on the airport and heavy equipment working along the close runway at the top. More heavy equipment lined up along the fence ready to go in too.
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Wilf Carter on May 28, 2022 at 1:05 pm
I see on facebook there was another slide.