Rockslide on 101: 'The whole Oregon Coast is a slide'
By John Tierney KVAL NewsGARDINER, Ore. – A rockslide came down across Highway 101 Wednesday afternoon, blocking several lanes and slowing traffic. KVAL YouNews reporter gringome19 snapped a photo of the scene near the town of Gardiner, north of Reedsport. The picture showed a mix of large boulders and smaller rocks blocking the road.
Flaggers were able to direct one car at a time around the slide. Oregon Department of Transportation spokesman Jared Castle says slides and sinks along the coastal highway are routine, although one of this size is unusual. “U.S. 101 is built in an area where you would never build a highway,” Castle says, talking about the precarious location of the roadway. “The whole Oregon Coast is a slide.” ODOT works to prevent large scale damage and contain slides. The concrete barrier visible on the far right side of the photo is in place to stop small rocks from rolling onto the highway, Castle says. Crews will knock down and remove any remaining loose material in the slide area, a process Castle compared to cleaning out your gutter at home. State geologists visited the slide Thursday morning. They say it is impossible to pinpoint the exact cause of the slide, although they are generally caused by rain that loosens the soil. Castle says drivers must always be alert when driving on the coast, especially at night. “This is why it’s important to drop your speeds down and pay attention,” he says. “Don’t be distracted with your cell phone and stuff. You could be the first one to come up on this kind of thing.” |
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