Until a permanent solution is found to stabilize Robert Service Way, the public should expect to see temporary closures when the conditions warrant, says Mayor Laura Cabott.

That solution may take the form of realigning the artery’s north end, the part closest to the SS Klondike.

The mayor hosted a media briefing Wednesday alongside city engineer Taylor Eshpeter to provide an update on the status of 
the roadway.

Over the past week, the city has been back and forth with closures, she noted.

The roadway was open Wednesday, she said, but officials know conditions can change at a moment’s notice.

There was, for instance, another slide between 6 a.m. and 7 a.m. Thursday.

That slide was contained by the berm and no material crossed into the driving lane, the city said in a release.

The movement is considered to be a small landslide. Robert Service Way and the Millennium Trail remain open.

This would not be possible without a number of safety measures, including the berm, jersey barriers, ongoing inspections, and slope scanner data, says the release.

However, this serves as yet another reminder that slope conditions can change quickly, and residents are encouraged to plan accordingly. Road users should drive to conditions and watch for signage.

The temporary closures are frustrating for the public, tourists, visitors and city staff, the mayor acknowledged at Wednesday’s briefing.

Cabott said the closures cause stress to people’s day, impact jobs, schedules and family plans.

Closures can impact other areas of the city and can quickly compound.

“I want residents to know that these closures are always a last resort and done only when we believe there is a risk of a substantial slide that could impact road users,” she said.

“But this is also a new reality.”

Over the last few months, the city has been collecting data to better understand what a long-term solution could look like. City council was briefed last week on a permanent solution.

The city is looking to realign the north end of Robert Service Way, regrade the escarpment and extend the sheet pile wall, the mayor explained.

She said the city has entered into a contract with BGC Engineering, an international consulting firm, for conceptual design of the proposed solution.

The contract is worth $50,000, and the work is expected to be completed in July.

Once the conceptual design is done, they’ll have a better sense of the cost, she said.

Cabott said implementing a permanent solution will be a major undertaking, which is why they will be submitting an application to the federal government’s Disaster Mitigation and Adaptation Fund.

The fund, she explained, is designed to support communities in mitigating the impacts of natural disasters triggered by climate change.

Actual reconstruction work would not begin until 2024.

Cabott said the slide was influenced by the impacts of climate change.

Eshpeter said the decision was made to close Robert Service Way last Sunday and Monday because of the heavy rainfall, which enhances the likelihood of slides.

The slope scanner installed by the city was also showing significant movement, he said.

Eshpeter said once officials have the conceptual design, they can begin preparing for the work to be done, but he expects the bulk of the work will be conducted next year.

Once the spring freshet season is over, the slide and the escarpment should stabilize somewhat, he said.

Robert Service Way was closed for five weeks after the major slide of April 8. It was then opened from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. – except for the Victoria Day long weekend – before being returned to 24-hour availability.