The Haines Borough Assembly will decide whether to authorize the construction of a temporary road across the landslide that swept Beach Road. If approved at a meeting on Friday, the work could begin as early as this weekend.
Dozens of residents living along Beach Road have struggled to access their properties after a landslide swept the road last month, destroying homes and killing two people.
Displaced residents have advocated for a temporary road to make it easier and safer to remove belongings from their homes.
Interim Haines Borough Manager Alekka Fullerton says that the manager of Southeast Roadbuilders has offered to clear a path.
“Roger Schnabel went over there and checked it out and came to the mayor with a proposal and there is a weather window which makes it particularly attractive right now,” Fullerton says.
Heavy rain earlier this week caused more material to slide downhill into the path of the original landslide. However, freezing temperatures are forecast tomorrow through next week. That may provide a window where the ground will be more firm.
Until now, borough officials have maintained that there is not enough information about the hazards in the slide area to determine if it is safe to clear a temporary road. Alaska Department of Transportation is working with a geotechnical consultant over the next few months to assess the area.
“This doesn’t change the overall assessment. It is not safe,” Fullerton says. “This is a recognition that people have different comfort levels with risk and for those who are willing to take this risk for themselves, that we would allow them the opportunity to do so.”
The temporary road proposed by Schnabel would follow the original path of Beach Road.
Fullerton says access would be restricted, with residents signing a logbook so that the borough knows who is out there. The temporary road would be open for 4 or 5 days to allow residents to retrieve their vehicles and other belongings.
Fullerton says after that the road would be closed once again.
“We are hoping that once we can provide this limited access that then we can step back and let the geohazard mitigation study go forward so we can make more permanent fixes.”
The Haines Borough Assembly will decide whether or not to authorize the plan for a temporary road. A special meeting has been scheduled for Friday at 2 p.m. Details on how to participate via Zoom are available here.
