UPDATE (7:00 pm):
The geotechnical assessment of the Hoodoos has been complete and Highway 93/95 has been fully reopened to traffic.
Assessment of the scene wrapped up early Thursday evening, nearly 11 hours after the rockslide occured during the morning commute.
The rocks broke free from the Hoodoos just moments after 8:00 am, completely blocking traffic. Mainroad East Kootenay, RCMP, and the Ministry of Transportation all responded to help control the scene and begin to clear away the debris.
Engineers arrived at the scene early Thursday afternoon and took drone footage to complete their geotechnical assessment, although patrols of the area will continue over the next 24 hours, ensuring the safety of those travelling through the Fairmont Hot Springs corridor.
#BCHwy93 #BCHwy95 now open both directions. Enhanced patrols will continue for 24 hours, reporting any further rock fall to ensure public safety. Updates are on @DriveBC. #PanoramaBC #FairmontHotSprings #InvermereBC
— MainroadEastKootenay (@MainroadEastK) December 6, 2019
UPDATE (4:45 pm):
Highway 93/95 is now single lane alternating traffic, although the road will not be fully opened until the completion of the geotechnical assessment.
Engineers arrived in the early afternoon to look at the Hoodoos, where the rockslide spilled across the highway around 8:00 am on Thursday.
It’s expected that Highway 93/95 will be fully open either later afternoon or early evening.
Geotechnical assessment continues at Hoodoo rock slide on #BCHwy93 near #FairmontHotSprings. Road remains closed, via @DriveBC https://t.co/JjMH4tXPdn. Fortunately, drones allow our engineers to perform this kind of work more safely. This explains: https://t.co/RDkRi0bX1d pic.twitter.com/AzOi9ZyisS
— BC Transportation (@TranBC) December 5, 2019
Update: #BCHwy93 near #FairmontHotSprings will be OPEN to Single Lane Alternating Traffic within an hour please follow @DriveBC for updates. pic.twitter.com/FRIxCxNpym
— Rocky Mtn District (@TranBCRockyMtn) December 5, 2019
UPDATE (11:00 AM):
The Ministry of Transporation is reporting that crews from Mainroad East Kootenay are currently working to clear the debris on Highway 93/95.
At this time, the highway is fully closed between Dutch Creek Road and Westside Road just south of Fairmont Hot Springs as they await a geotechnical assessment of the Hoodoos. The rockslide tumbled down and across the Highway 93/95 sometime around 8:00 am on Thursday.
The highway remains closed indefinitely until the geotechnical assessment is complete and the road is fully cleared of debris.
Our maintenance contractor @MainroadEastK is clearing debris on #BCHwy93 near #FairmontHotSprings and geotechnical assessment is underway. Our next @DriveBC update will be at noon. pic.twitter.com/HBwy0v4R9V
— Rocky Mtn District (@TranBCRockyMtn) December 5, 2019
A look at the Dutch Creek Hoodoos earth slope failure, which our geotechnical engineers are assessing after this morning’s rockslide on #BCHwy93. Meanwhile, cleanup continues. @DriveBC for updates on highway status: https://t.co/JjMH4tXPdn #FairmontHotSprings pic.twitter.com/u8LUbl03K6
— BC Transportation (@TranBC) December 5, 2019
UPDATE (9:57 am):
Highway 93/95 was briefly single lane alternating traffic after a rockslide near the Hoodoos by Fairmont Hot Springs Thursday morning, but the road has since been closed once again for a geotechnical assessment.
Drive BC said the road is closed indefinitely until the geotechnical assessment can be completed.
The Ministry of Transporation also provided updated photos from the scene since the closure.
UPDATE (9:20 am):
According to reports from the scene, part of the rockslide has been cleared by crews.
Drive BC reports that Highway 93/95 is now single lane alternating traffic as a result, but motorists should still expect delays if travelling through the Columbia Valley.
No one was injured in the rockslide, which broke free and spilled across the highway just after 8:00 am on Thursday.
Rocky Mountain School District 6 is also reporting some bussing delays due to the rockslide, and what is now a partial road closure.
Thursday Dec. 5th – Windermere Zone. Due to an unexpected highway event all buses running south of Invermere and north of Dutch Creek bridge are running 15 minutes late. Bus service on Westside road is cancelled. Canal Flats bus is returning to Canal Flats.
— RMSD6 (@RMSD6) December 5, 2019
UPDATE (8:21 am):
Drive BC has since reported that Highway 93/95 is fully closed and that no detour is available.
Motorists are being alerted by Drive BC to obey any traffic control at the scene as vehicles are being asked to turn around.
#BCHwy93 Closed due to rocks on road between Dutch Creek Rd and Westside Rd by Fairmont Hot Springs. Assessment in progress, detour not available. Details: https://t.co/Bj9ILut1jY pic.twitter.com/xa4QMIRSJT
— Drive BC (@DriveBC) December 5, 2019
Original Story:
Traffic on Highway 93/95 is completely blocked Thursday morning following a rockslide at the Hoodoos by Fairmont Hot Springs.
Motorists took to social media to share photos of the rockslide, which is fully blocking traffic at this time.
A listener with 107.5 2dayFM providing the following information.
“A whole bunch of big piles of rock and mud just fell down across the road,” said the witness. “It’s totally stopping traffic right now.”
This is a developing story and more information will be shared as it becomes available.
