Continued wet conditions have resulted in a delay of the scheduled reopening of Highway 9 at the Holiday Slide.
Previously estimated to reopen March 4, the highway is now estimated to reopen on Friday, March 17.
A full closure of Highway 9 remains in effect between lower Glen Arbor Road and Holiday Lane due to a slide caused by winter storms.
The wet conditions that have contributed to this additional delay are not attributable only to the inclement weather, which has hit the region over recent weeks. Groundwater continues to flow out the slope face, washing slide material down with it to the highway.
Horizontal and vertical drains have been installed on the slope in an effort to intercept ground water. Geotech engineers and geologists continue to work on solutions to these wet conditions.
“Taking advantage of a break in the wet weather, our contractors will continue working on debris removal, drainage management, slope stabilization and rebuilding of a damaged retaining wall,” according to Caltrans District 5 officials.
Weather permitting, it is now estimated that it will take until March 17 to finish rebuilding the retaining wall and to temporarily stabilize the hillside above the roadway before the highway will be able to be safely reopened while a permanent solution is determined for the slope.
Once reopened, a temporary signal system will be installed to provide one-way traffic control as repair work continues.
A detour remains available on Glen Arbor Road, and all businesses in and around Ben Lomond remain open.
