Crews and excavators worked this morning to extend a large, already existing retaining wall at the site of what the City is calling an "unstable rock" incident on the eastern edge of Penticton.
The City learned about the issue Tuesday when a surveyor noticed something was amiss on the steep bluff just meters from the Pleasant Valley Mobile Home Park at 1701 Penticton Ave., part of a large residential complex that borders Penticton Creek.
"Someone was out doing some survey work and noticed there was an issue, called the City and said we have a problem," said City of Penticton senior communications advisor Shane Mills.
"The crews went out right away, the geotech was called and we got the people out of their homes. It all happened in the space of five, six hours."
According to Mills, the work on the retaining wall is the "first step" in remediating the situation.
"Part of the rock (situated ten meters or more above nearby rooftops in PentictonNow's best judgment) has come loose," he said. "It's slid a bit. And we're worried it'll keep going.
"So it was identified last night to build up that retaining wall, then we'll figure what the next steps are to deal with the unstable rock."
Mills said work crews, geotechnical engineers and "rock removal experts" have been at the site all morning. He expects they'll report with their findings this afternoon.
"They'll have a proposed plan of what to do with that rock," he said. "Can we remove it? Can we secure it and make sure there's stability and safety for those residents?"
Meanwhile, several roadways within the complex – those closest to the danger – remain blocked and 28 residences remain evacuated.
