Date:  Monday, November 10, 2008

Contact: Dustin Terpening, WSDOT communications, 360-757-5997 (Burlington)
Marco Foster, Engineering Manager, 360-757-5991 (Burlington)

Crews stabilized rock slope that caused initial closure Nov. 7

BELLINGHAM – A second rockslide is threatening Chuckanut Drive (SR 11), approximately three miles north of a rockslide that closed the road Friday, Nov. 7. The new slide area is at milepost 13.3, near the Whatcom-Skagit county line. Crews will keep the road closed indefinitely as engineers inspect the area.

WSDOT crews examining the rock slope on Sunday, Nov. 9, noticed significant movement in the slope and a few rocks on the road. Crews are concerned that a wet, windy storm system set to hit the region Tuesday and Wednesday could cause further movement in the slope and cause more rocks to fall. Geotechnical engineers will examine the area this week and decide how best to stabilize it.

Meanwhile, crews from Granite Construction worked through the weekend near milepost 11 to clear the roadway and stabilize the hillside after a rockslide Friday, Nov. 7. Crews are working today to remove unstable rocks and trees from the hillside. Work is expected to be complete Monday evening.

Crews pulled approximately 100 yards of loose rock and debris off the hillside. A couple of the rocks that came down were so big that they had to be broken into five or six pieces before they could be hauled away. (For perspective, a dump truck can haul approximately 10-12 yards of material.)

Crews initially hoped to clear the area and reopen the road Friday, but the rockslide became too dangerous when more rock fell from the hillside while crews were working in the area.

WSDOT hired Granite Construction on Saturday to stabilize the hillside, and emergency work started Sunday. It will cost approximately $50,000 to $100,000 to stabilize the hillside.

Pictures and video of Nov. 7 rockslide are available from the WSDOT Flickr account.

Friday, Nov. 7 slide - www.flickr.com/photos/wsdot/sets/72157608811311668/.

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