A washout north of Okanagan Falls has temporarily closed a section of Eastside Road.
The transportation ministry set up a detour on McLean Creek Road so residents in the area could still access their homes.
Officials said a full geotechnical assessment will be carried out on Tuesday.
“I was surprised to see how much gave way,” nearby resident Janice Johnson said.
About a foot of dirt under the roadway and cement barrier have given way, she said.
Johnson said recent walks in the area brought the erosion to her attention, but she never thought the road would become undermined.
“Some of us think it’s because there’s water that comes off the hillsides and the way it’s all slanted, it kind of just rolls over to that side,” Johnson said. “If you look along the road there’s not a lot of ditch anymore because a lot of rock and dirt has filled in on this side and the opposite side of the road.”
Johnson said representatives from the Ministry of Highways have told her they may have to dig out the ditches in the area or place culverts under the road.
Johnson is concerned with the extent of the work necessary to fix the road and the supporting hillside as her driveway is directly across from the slide.
“We will be stuck if the road is dug up.”
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Johnson said only her vehicles have been allowed through the closed area.
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