Mudslide strikes roadway near Williams Lake, Canada

A roadway in British Columbia, Canada was closed after a mudslide struck north of Williams Lake City.

The damaged roadway is known as Soda Creek-MacAlister Road and is linked with Highway 97, the longest provincial highway in any Canadian province which stretches for 2,081 kilometers.

The mudslide occurred on March 29, 2020, and affected a road embankment resulting in complete road closure. The geological setting of the region consists of alluvium silts as it is located near the Fraser River.

Fortunately, there were no accidents or injuries associated with the ground failure.

The Canadian Ministry of Transportation and Infrastructure initiated a geotechnical assessment to investigate the causes of the failure and, accordingly, plan future works. According to a Ministry spokesperson, the ground failure was not anticipated since there were no intense rainfalls during the past days that could trigger the collapse. “The road was closed as soon as possible by our maintenance contractor, Emcon, with signage to alert drivers of the closure. The cause of the damage is under investigation, as weather in the area was favorable at the time with limited rain in recent weeks,” the spokesman, said.

In general, the region is considered stable as there are no signs of extensive landsliding for the past 40 years.

The Ministry reported that experts must determine whether the slide is stabilized or further deformation may occur. In the latter scenario, authorities must wait before implementing stabilization measures. Therefore, it is unknown when the roadway will re-open. 

According to recent updates on April 3, officials will launch a drone mission to better evaluate the development of the phenomenon. “A drone flight is being organized for next week to gather more information which will help determine potential repair options,” a Ministry spokesperson, stated.

Ground deformation had occurred before the main event and was noticed by local residents. A woman, who was alerted by her neighbors that there was a large gap at the road, passed through the area hours before the mudslide. "I was prepared because normally that’s an area where you go quicker and enjoy it. It felt like going over a four-inch (10 centimeters) speed bump," she stated.

Until now, the only potential problem that locals have pointed out regarding the road is snow accumulation during winter. Sometimes they must wait for about a day until the snow is removed.

People from the affected municipalities can travel to Williams Lake through alternative roadways, however, an extra 20-minute drive is added to their routes.