Hillside Complex to reopen as landslide slows

Some residents and businesses evacuated in the Budge Drive landslide will be able to return Wednesday.

According to a news release from the Town of Jackson, the evacuation advisory and evacuation order for the area will be lifted at 8 a.m. Wednesday for many homes and businesses in the Hillside Complex.

However, Walgreens and the nearby apartments for employees will remain closed until Walgreens can resolve utility issues and reoccupation is authorized by town officials. Also not returning are some residents in the high-risk area at the crest of the landslide, pending further tests.

Evacuations for around 60 people began in early April.

According to the latest readings, the landslide slowed to .1 inch over the past 24 hours, which the acting police chief called “great news for everyone affected by this landslide.”

“It just makes it that much safer to have everyone working in the area and to be able to reopen Budge Drive to vehicle traffic, allowing most of those directly affected by this landslide to return to their normal routines,” said Cole Nethercott, who is also the unified incident co-commander.

Budge Drive is expected to reopen to single-lane vehicular traffic sometime at the end of the week, and residents should expect intermittent closures of their street due to continued drilling operations and heavy equipment in the area. Town officials also said residents should expect reduced water pressure.

The town has spent a great deal of resources on managing the landslide, spending more than $600,000 of its $750,000 budget. The town is pursuing funding from the state as recommended by Gov. Matt Mead, who visited Monday.