Escarpment 2023

The City of Whitehorse is preparing to open Robert Service Way on a temporary basis as early as Monday, May 15.

If conditions allow, two-way traffic will be allowed to use Robert Service Way between the hours of 7 a.m. and 7 pm.

Over the last week, crews have been working to manually trigger a remaining portion of the escarpment that posed a risk to road users along Robert Service Way. Since that work began, a large portion of the material has been removed, which reduces the risk considerably.

To further protect road users, discarded material from the escarpment will be used to create a berm along the road. Jersey barriers will also be installed to direct traffic and provide additional protection.

Media outlets will be informed on Sunday following a final assessment of conditions. The City’s social media accounts and Engage Whitehorse will be updated as well.

Transit changes as a result of the slides will remain in place to limit impacts on the transit network and its users.

Trails in the area will also remain closed; however, active transportation users can continue to access Downtown using the Rotary Pedestrian Bridge.

We appreciate the public’s patience throughout this response and ask that road users continue to plan for delays in the event conditions change.

The City has been closely monitoring and assessing the recent timing changes at the intersections of Two Mile Hill Road and Range Road, and Two Mile Hill Road and the Alaska Highway.

Following recommendations from our consultants, the timing has been further modified based on recent field observations.

These new updates are expected to improve upon some of the movements at the intersections; however, the intersections will continue to be busy during peak times. Residents are encouraged to travel in off-peak hours if possible.

Efforts to mitigate a portion of escarpment that poses a risk to Robert Service Way is moving ahead as scheduled.

Heavy equipment is nearing the top edge of the tension crack and is expected to begin removing that material in the coming days.

By reducing this risk, we can continue to plan for a temporary reopening of Robert Service Way.

Overall, conditions along Robert Service Way look to be stabilizing as crews are observing minimal sloughing and the soil appears to be drying. Residents are reminded to respect trail and road closures as there are still areas of concern.

We continue to monitor the entirety of the escarpment including areas along Drury Street and in Takhini.

Starting today, the City will be working with a local contractor to remove material from the escarpment in the area of the April 8th landslide. Equipment will be working at the top of the escarpment to manually trigger the remaining volume of material that is hanging precariously on the slope. This is a site-specific improvement to address an imminent concern and is not meant to be a permanent, long-term solution.

This video was taken during a site visit by our Engineering team. They caught this ‘dry slide’ on video as it was happening. Residents are reminded to stay clear of the closed portions of the Millennium Trail, the Upper Escarpment Trail and trails along the lower escarpment. While the landslide caught on video was very dry material, with the spring melt occurring rapidly, the nature of the next landslides could be more influenced by water, and as a result, could travel much faster and farther. Please enjoy other trails around our city.

We encourage residents to reach out if they have any questions or concerns through our Ask a Question section.

The City will implement traffic signal timing changes at the intersections of Two Mile Hill and Range Road, and Two Mile Hill and the Alaska Highway starting tomorrow.

These modifications are expected to improve some of the movements at the intersections, but the intersections will continue to be busy during morning peak times.

We encourage travellers to continue adjusting travel times, and consider carpooling, using other modes of transportation, or working from home, where possible. Please continue to be aware of each other, be patient, and be kind.

Residents can expect to see continued activity along the escarpment such as groundwater seepage and minor sliding as the temperature warms. Significant movement such as debris travelling beyond the barriers should be reported to 9-1-1.

We encourage residents to reach out if they have any questions or concerns through our Ask a Question section.

Commuters should continue to anticipate delays in travel time and increased traffic congestion due to the Robert Service Way closure.

We recognize the inconvenience of this closure, especially during peak hours around Two Mile Hill Road and Range Road, and we’re exploring options to improve traffic conditions.

Please allow for more travel time, and consider carpooling, using transit, choosing active transportation, or working from home, where possible.

Your safety is important to us, and road users are urged to be cautious and follow the rules of the road to prevent collisions. Please be aware of each other, be patient, and be kind.

The City is exploring mitigation and risk reduction measures to reopen Robert Service Way as soon as possible, but the risks of landslides are still too high.

The escarpment continues to show signs of movement, and residents are reminded of the importance of staying out of the areas that have been closed.

As part of its comprehensive monitoring plan, the City has started outreach to residents living along the escarpment. While there aren’t signs of unreasonable risk to buildings at this time, this outreach includes updates on current conditions and information around evacuations in the event conditions change.

We thank the public for their continued patience and cooperation during this time.

We encourage residents to reach out if they have any questions or concerns through our Ask a Question section.

The escarpment along Robert Service Way continues to show signs of movement at the location of the April 8 slide while the rest of the escarpment is very active.

As part of its ongoing monitoring, crews were on site this morning and the volume of groundwater exiting the escarpment is rapidly accelerating as a result of increased precipitation and warming temperatures.

We would like to remind residents of the importance of staying out of the areas that have been closed and encourage residents to reach out if they have any questions or concerns.

The escarpment along Robert Service Way continues to show signs of instability.

New tension cracks have developed immediately south of the April 8, 2023 slide and the likelihood of another slide in this area of similar or larger size is high.

As a result, Robert Service Way will remain closed along with portions of the Millennium Trail, the Upper Escarpment trail, and trails along the lower escarpment until further notice.

City crews will be on site in the coming days installing fencing along these trails to limit access to these high-risk areas.

As part of the City’s comprehensive monitoring plan crews are installing additional prisms, temporary survey monuments to track slope movement, across the escarpment and in the areas of concern. This data gives the City an understanding of how the escarpment is reacting to warming temperatures and will help inform the City’s next steps.

In anticipation of future movement and the likelihood of future slides, the City of Whitehorse is partially activating its Emergency Operations Centre (EOC).

The EOC is responsible for coordinating equipment and staff resources that could be called upon in the event of additional slides along the escarpment.

The risk of landslides remains high and serious incidents can occur at a moment’s notice. When there is risk to public health and safety, the City uses Whitehorse Alert to notify residents. This includes when there is a need to evacuate. To register for Whitehorse Alert, visit whitehorse.ca/emergency.

Robert Service Way from the softball diamonds to the traffic circle on 4th Avenue will be closed until further notice following an early morning landslide on Saturday, April 8.

Portions of the Millennium Trail, the Upper Escarpment Trail and trails along the lower escarpment will also be closed as crews work to assess the sites and identify any further risk areas.

During an assessment on April 11, crews identified a number of new tension cracks and the slope continues to show signs of instability. The land survey is also showing movement in an area of concern.

Motorists should continue to adjust travel times.

Our Parks department has cleared the access point through Robert Service Campground for cyclists wishing to commute downtown through Riverdale using the Rotary Pedestrian Bridge, or just take a spin out on the highway. If you're new to this informal entrance, it's 95 metres south of the main campground entrance on Robert Service Way. The campground is a construction site, so please stay on the trail.

We want to thank the public for their patience. More information will follow as it becomes available.