Robert Service Way Escarpment Update #1

The escarpment along Robert Service Way continues to show signs of instability.

New tension cracks have developed immediately south of the April 8, 2023 slide and the likelihood of another slide in this area of similar or larger size is high.

As a result, Robert Service Way will remain closed along with portions of the Millennium Trail, the Upper Escarpment trail, and trails along the lower escarpment until further notice.

City crews will be on site in the coming days installing fencing along these trails to limit access to these high-risk areas.

As part of the City’s comprehensive monitoring plan crews are installing additional prisms, temporary survey monuments to track slope movement, across the escarpment and in the areas of concern. This data gives the City an understanding of how the escarpment is reacting to warming temperatures and will help inform the City’s next steps.

In anticipation of future movement and the likelihood of future slides, the City of Whitehorse is partially activating its Emergency Operations Centre (EOC).

The EOC is responsible for coordinating equipment and staff resources that could be called upon in the event of additional slides along the escarpment.

The risk of landslides remains high and serious incidents can occur at a moment’s notice. When there is risk to public health and safety, the City uses Whitehorse Alert to notify residents. This includes when there is a need to evacuate. To register for Whitehorse Alert, visit whitehorse.ca/emergency.