The Kentucky Transportation Cabinet and a specialty contractor are continuing efforts to repair a major landslide along Ky. 93 in Lyon County. Highway engineers have indicated damage to the highway between the 8 and 9 mile marker south of Eddyville is so severe the project will require rebuilding the roadway and could take up to six weeks or more.
Heavy rain that led to near-record flooding across the region saturated the soil along a fill area causing the roadway to drop as much as 10 feet along about a 1,500 foot section of highway in the Eddy Creek area, said Keith Todd, spokesman for the Kentucky Department of Highways.
Starting Monday, a crew will drive pilings along the lower edge of the slide to further stabilize the area. Once a retaining wall is constructed, the area will be back filled and compacted to help reduce the opportunity for future slides developing at the site. Engineers are optimistic Ky. 93 can reopen at the site around the first of July.
The highway provides and important tourist route that runs along Lake Barkley through southern Lyon County serving a number of resorts and marinas. The closure cuts off Eddy Creek Marina and others from Eddyville.
Kentucky Transportation Cabinet engineers say the Ky. 93 landslide is the largest in Kentucky’s 12 westernmost counties in recent memory. Early estimates indicated the cost of repair will be about $600,000 and take about four to six weeks or more to complete, depending on weather conditions.
About 2,200 vehicles travel this section of Ky. 93 in an average day. The highway is closed to through traffic between Holiday Hills Subdivision and Eddy Creek.
