Work to temporarily stabilize the slope above Highway 97 along Okanagan Lake near Summerland is complete more than a year after a rockslide crashed onto the route

The good news is the Ministry of Transportation has decided the highway will remain open with two lanes of traffic over the winter as it monitors the slide site to ensure safety.

Highway 97 between Callan Road and Okanagan Lake was closed for weeks after 3,000 cubic metres of rock fell onto the highway on Aug. 28, 2023.

Following the slide, the ministry secured the site to reopen the highway and began blasting away rock to prevent another slide. There have been intermittent temporary road closures so the rock could be blasted away safely.

The ministry is using technology as part of a 24/7 slide monitoring program to detect any movement. The highway could be closed again if any movement is detected.

READ MORE: Highway 97 slide near Summerland sends drivers down dangerous forestry road

After the rockfall event on August 28, Geotechnical engineers discovered tension cracks extending further upslope beyond the initial rockfall area.
After the rockfall event on August 28, Geotechnical engineers discovered tension cracks extending further upslope beyond the initial rockfall area.
Image Credit: SUBMITTED/Ministry of Transportation

A worker looking at the tension crack in the mountain next to Highway 97.
A worker looking at the tension crack in the mountain next to Highway 97.
Image Credit: SUBMITTED/Ministry of Transportation

When workers investigated the site of the rockslide they found massive tension cracks in the mountain that were two metres wide and 20 metres deep.

Due to the tension cracks engineers decided that a lot of work was needed to make sure the highway would be safe long-term. 

To manage the initial emergency, a 22-metre high temporary soil and rock berm was constructed along the toe of the slide to resist further slope movement. This temporary berm acts as a buttress for holding back slide movement until long term stabilization measures can be implemented.
To manage the initial emergency, a 22-metre high temporary soil and rock berm was constructed along the toe of the slide to resist further slope movement. This temporary berm acts as a buttress for holding back slide movement until long term stabilization measures can be implemented.
Image Credit: SUBMITTED/Ministry of Transportation

Over the past year, workers have removed more than 46,500 cubic metres of material, but there are still some long-term repairs and extra safety measures to install.

Steel rock anchors that are 30 metres long and a retaining wall will work together to prevent more rockslides.

The ministry will provide another update in the spring when the long-term work is set to begin.

During the construction of the berm, a 24/7 slide monitoring program was established. Specialized survey equipment is used to continuously monitor the area for slide movement. If slide movement is detected, the highway can be closed on short notice to protect road users and site workers.
During the construction of the berm, a 24/7 slide monitoring program was established. Specialized survey equipment is used to continuously monitor the area for slide movement. If slide movement is detected, the highway can be closed on short notice to protect road users and site workers.
Image Credit: SUBMITTED/Ministry of Transportation

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