Crews are seen installing a lock-block wall at the slide on Highway 97 just north of Summerland, Sept. 5, 2023.
Image Credit: SUBMITTED/Province of BC
November 06, 2023 - 4:40 PM
Rock blasting means Highway 97 north of Summerland will be closed for two hours tomorrow.
The Ministry of Transportation is closing the highway in both directions between 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Tuesday, Nov. 7, as it continues work to stabilize the rock wall by the highway. Detours will be available along Trout Main and the 201 Forest Service Roads.
The blasting and rock removal is part of the ministry’s ongoing efforts to make the route safe since the original slide in September.
Rock blasting began on Oct. 24, when crews removed 250 cubic metres of slide material. The ministry’s goal is to remove a total of 950 cubic metres of rock.
Once the rock has been removed the ministry will use bolts and anchors to secure the area to help prevent future rockslides.
Blasting at night is dangerous, so the ministry has to do this work during daylight hours. It assures the public it will schedule blasting to cause as little disruption as possible.
More closures for blasting will be coming up this fall. The ministry will provide details about blasting closer to the closures.
For more updates go to DriveBC's website.
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