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Damage on Highway 6 caused by the mudslide. (Photo Credit: TranBC)
Drive BC has finally announced an estimated time of opening for the damaged Highway 6 east of Vernon.
The highway has been closed since February 18th after a mud slide cracked the road, but Drive BC says that it's expected to open March 21st. Highway 6 is closed one kilometre west of Needles Ferry Dock because the slope has continued to move, with ongoing risk of further failure. On Friday, the Ministry of Transportation that an assessment earlier that day showed the movement was beginning to stabilize.
(Photo Credit: TranBC)
That area of the highway connects the Okanagan to the East Kootenay. A detour is available through Barnes Creek Forest Service Road, managed by traffic control personnel with single alternating traffic. The school buses for School District 10 have been using this road for transport as well.
Ministry officials have been closely monitoring the highway, and the likely causes for the continued slope instability are thought to be groundwater movement and high internal pore-water pressure.
(Photo Credit: TranBC)
(Photo Credit: TranBC)
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