Contractors for the city of Yachats take a soil core sample Thursday on Horizon Hill Road to help determine if part of the road is moving down a steep slope or if a utility trench is simply settling.The city of Yachats started a year-long $18,000 project Thursday to see if a portion of Horizon Hill Road is sloughing off the steep hillside east of downtown.
A contractor with Geo Engineers of Salem took a core sample of earth from Horizon Hill just north of its intersection with Spruce Street. Geo Engineers will then place monitors along each side of the road and periodically take measurements to see what, if anything, is moving.
The concern arose when an 80-yard long crack appeared in the road where a trench was dug years ago for utilities. The city wants to see if the trench is just now settling or if part of the road is sliding off down the steep bank to the west.
“That’s what we’ve got to decide,” said Rick McClung, manager of the city’s water treatment system. “Is it utilities or is the road sloughing off to the side? I’m hoping it’s a trench issue; that would work out the best for everybody.”
