Rattlesnake Ridge

[TreeGuy]

I wonder why they don’t use explosives to bring it down in a controlled way.

http://www.king5.com/article/news/local/landslide-could-happen-by-next-sunday-on-rattlesnake-ridge/281-505365303

Drone footage

[Fancy]

I would think the experts have considered that possibility and rejected it. A 250 foot deep crack on a mountain that is unstable might be hard to work with and too dangerous.

[TreeGuy]

This could potentially bury the interstate at any moment yet they leave it open. I say close the interstate and drop a charge onto it. Bring it down on their terms.

[oneh2obabe]

UNION GAP, Wash. - Many are wondering of the hazardous effects a Rattlesnake Ridge landslide could have on nearby communities and even the Yakima River.

Action News spoke with George Machan, a geotechnical engineer with Conforth Consultants for an overview of the tension crack discovered in October of 2017, experts said has caused the slow-moving landslide.

Machan advised the landslide is not moving west towards Interstate 82 and the Yakima River, a concern many have had, but instead south towards the Columbia Ak Anderson Quarry.

http://kimatv.com/news/local/rattlesnak ... ide-headed

[Fancy]

Horace Ward of Yakima Valley Emergency Management says doing a controlled demolition of the hillside would be dangerous for the public.

Ward says the contractor surveying Rattlesnake Ridge reported back to them that the amount of land is just too much of a hazard for the amount of land that would be involved in a controlled demolition…so even though that may seem like the easiest and quickest solution, it’s simply out of the question.

“To put it blunt, it’s a large safety risk,” Ward said. “It’s a lot of mass to try to use explosives. In their expertise, they do not advise it.”

Ward says his office has been working closely with DOT to monitor the activity on the ridge in case I-82 needs to be closed to traffic, but he says at least right now that’s not the case and I-82 is safe to drive on when going through Union Gap.

http://fox41yakima.com/rattlesnake-ridg ... es-update/

[dogspoiler]

If they leave it alone, whatever happens may be regarded as an act of god, or a result of nearby work.
If they blast it down, they may be held responsible for any damages.
The lawyers are likely making plans already.

[Queen K]

Meagan Lott, a WSDOT spokesperson says the land is sliding 1.4 feet each week.

Yakima County Office of Emergency Management estimates that 8 million tons of earth could slide within the month.

Lott said when it comes to a landslide, "It is not a matter of if but when." She added that there is a best-case scenario.

"What we are being told is the material above Thorp Road will most likely go into the pit site below and kind of stabilize itself out," she said.

But Lott acknowledged it is possible the landslide could move toward homes and Interstate 82. Freight containers loaded with concrete barriers are set up along Thorp Road. WSDOT says it would not stop a landslide. However, the chain of containers is being used to block falling rocks and debris from I-82.

"This morning we had a rock come down and land on to Thorp Road which is the county road that is currently closed right now, and it was the size of a baseball," said Lott.

If activity picks up and more rocks start to fall, WSDOT could close I-82. On a typical day, about 30,000 vehicles travel the stretch of Interstate near Thorp Road. If it does have to close, WSDOT says drivers would have a 15-mile detour."

Sounds like they are much more concerned with adding a lousy 15 mile detour to driving than they are with 30,000 vehicles driving underneath the damn slide area per DAY! What is wrong with these people?

I looked it all up in my Washington State mapbook and there is a perfectly acceptable alternate route around the potential area, if I was given a choice, I'd add the 15 miles on to the drive.

I wonder if people are being informed as to what the alternative detour is as in:

HERE is your choice, keep to Hwy 97/Thorp road and take a chance OR Take this detour.

[Bsuds]

HERE is your choice, keep to Hwy 97/Thorp road and take a chance OR Take this detour.

I'll take the detour thanks.

[Queen K]

I wonder if they have a stop point at the turn site.

"Hi, if you continue down this highway, Rattlesnake ridge is dropping rocks and could come down any moment, or you can follow the detour signs around it."

"What does the detour add to my travel time?"

"30 minutes"

"I'll take the detour."

OR, are they telling unsuspecting people who don't follow local news like this, like me? I would have NO idea if we traveled down there right now.

None.

I'm with Treeguy, drop the charges, control the timing, block the highways for miles either way. Do they think a team has to go up there and walk around? Use freaking drones for gawdsake.

[Queen K]

Does anyone know if there are highway stopping points to inform the public?

If I drive down to Yakima right now and don't take the Hwy 12 turn off, I'd be headed right to Union Gap and the Rattlesnake Ridge, is there an aggressive information site?

I actually like that area. We love the desert scene.