Highway 97 north of Summerland will remain closed during the long weekend while geotechnical engineers continue to assess the site of the Aug. 28 landslide.
Sensors that were put in place following the slide are showing movement of the slope above the highway, and there is currently no estimate of when the highway can be safely reopened to general traffic.
Engineers have given approval for one lane of Highway 97 to be cleared for use by emergency vehicles only, and travel by emergency vehicles through the site will take place under specific site safety protocols.
No other traffic will be permitted due to the ongoing safety risk.
Engineers will collect more instrumentation data throughout the weekend to get a clearer picture of the condition of the slope and the risk of further rockfalls.
Traffic is moving well on two forest service road detour routes, which include:
The detour routes are unpaved, have limited cell phone coverage, and will add as much as 90 minutes of travel time.
Drivers are advised to fuel up or charge up their vehicles, bring food, water and extra supplies, and be aware that driving conditions can change quickly.
It is also encouraged to take trips during daylight and drive with caution.
Additional signage has been installed and the routes will be patrolled 24 hours a day.
Staff at reception tents at the detour entrances will provide maps and answer questions from motorists.
Crews will be working throughout the weekend to do further grading and dust control work on the gravel roads.
Detour maps can be found here.
