Uncategorized

UPDATED: Part of River Road South closed due to landslide

A landslide on River Road South that happened early Thursday morning. (Courtesy/City of Salem)

Update 10:33 a.m.: The city expects that section of River Road will be closed for several days because it isn’t currently safe to assess the damage.

Original post below

A landslide has closed a portion of River Road South between Southeast Owens Street and Minto Island Road, the city of Salem announced Thursday morning.

The detour route is South Croisan Creek Road.

“This closure will remain in effect while cleanup and geotechnical assessment activities are taking place,” the city said in a news release.

The slide took place around 2:30 a.m. Trevor Smith, city spokesman, said the slide was still active at 9 a.m. Thursday and crews were beginning their work assessing the damage.

The city estimates 150 cubic yard of material are blocking the northbound lane and into the southbound lane. One of the boulders is about two cubic yards in size, the city said.

“The slide is still moving and material continues to slide. Once the area has stabilized we will be able to provide a better assessment,” the city said in a Facebook post around 8:30 a.m. Thursday.

-Saphara Harrell