Section of Highway 101 in Northern California sinks after storm

Caltrans announced the “slipout,” near Cooks Valley along a bend in the South Fork Eel River, on its social media, and reassured motorists that the agency is closely monitoring the single-lane highway.

“If the highway is open, it's safe,” Caltrans wrote in its statement. “Crews are conducting and planning stabilization efforts including the use of soil nails.”

Following slipout activity on US 101 near Cooks Valley in southern Humboldt, 24-7 monitoring continues. If the highway is open, it's safe. Crews are conducting and planning stabilization efforts including the use of soil nails. Updates here and via https://t.co/faudYOtp7p pic.twitter.com/92P9cw582P

Soil nails are a construction measure to reinforce a destabilized slope by inserting the nails into the earth, creating a gravity retaining wall for support. 

Myles Cochrane, a spokesperson for Caltrans, explained on the radio station KMUD News on March 13 that road crews were mobilizing equipment in the event of further sliding on the highway. 

“What we can let you know right now is that 24/7 monitoring of that site does continue,” he said. “Crews have had a very close eye on that and so long as it’s open, it is safe. And it is currently open as we speak right now. Of course that is subject to change as we’ve had weather conditions in the area.”

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