For a few days at least, the boulder sitting on a pullout on U.S. Highway 101 occupied one of the most coveted spots along the Oregon coast – an unobstructed view of the Heceta Head lighthouse.
But the behemoth met its fate Thursday when Oregon Department of Transportation crews used a “boulder buster” to break it into manageable pieces and haul it away.
The boulder – along with 400 yards of other rocks, dirt, trees and brush – slid onto Highway 101 just north of Sea Lion Caves just after noon Saturday. The highway was reopened six hours later.
The debris – the equivalent of 40 dump truck loads — came from the steep hillside above the road, and is likely to continue shedding more material through the winter. In fact, some small rocks and dirt came down Tuesday night but were removed early Wednesday, said Angela Beers-Seydel, an ODOT spokeswoman in Eugene
Beers-Seydel said ODOT geologists have looked at the slope and reported that there is “loose material that will continue to come down.”
“Crews are digging out the ditch and that should keep much of what falls out of the road,” she said.
Saturday’s slide took place about 50 yards south of the popular lighthouse viewpoint. Crews were able to move the giant boulder to the pullout, where it was cordoned off with traffic cones and caution tape before being turned into rubble Thursday.
ODOT crews used what’s called a “boulder buster” to break up the rock, said Beers-Seydel.
“It drills a hole in the rock and puts a small charge inside,” she said. “There’s a puff of smoke and the rock falls apart in place.”
Beers-Seydel used Saturday’s six-hour closure to remind travelers “that it’s good to remember that in the winter conditions can change quickly.”
“We see a lot of landslides and trees down, large and small, during winter storms,” she said. “People should be prepared for delays, with blankets, water and snacks in the car.
Also, the state highway website – www.TripCheck.com — has road conditions, weather reports, and cameras on many routes “so you can see what is happening out there,” Beers-Seydel said.
