The wet weather took its toll on a portion of Foothill Road, which has been closed indefinitely.
Tuesday morning city crews were called to a stretch of Foothill just west of Mount Ida Cemetery, when the lower edge of the road began sloughing down the bank.
Crews blocked off the road to traffic from 14th Street SW to 30th Street SW, the two closest access points to the slide.
By 11 a.m. Tuesday, about three metres of the shoulder and roadway had sloughed off along a 30-metre stretch of road, with a total of about 60 metres affected by cracks and fissures.
Periodically small chunks of asphalt and earth would tumble down the bank, while rivulets of water could be seen pushing their way out of the soil far below the road’s surface.
City engineer Jenn Wilson explained the over-saturation of the ground had compromised the road structure.
“There’s a little creek – it came down the hillside along the ditch – it’s getting under the road base.”
Adding to the problem was an exposed natural gas line, which Fortis crews were working to secure.
Although city staff were awaiting word from a geotechnical engineer who was surveying the situation, Wilson said the ground was still moving a little but it looked like the worst was done.
“It’s a very, very wet spring – the geotech was saying he’s been popping around to slides all around the place. We’re getting off lucky compared to some.”
Also surveying the damage was Jaci Metivier, owner of the property below the road, where the mud and water were accumulating as the road edge collapsed.
“I’ve been noticing for years drainage has been becoming an issue on the cemetery road and Mount Ida Forest Service Road – and no one seems to be taking responsibility.”
As for rebuilding the road, Wilson said it will be a matter of digging it down to stable ground and then rebuilding it, ensuring proper drainage is established. She predicted that construction could take one to two weeks, and the affected section of the road will be closed until further notice.
“It will be a matter of finding the money and the crews.”
Depending on geotechnical findings, Wilson said the road might be opened to single-lane traffic.
