A section of West Lake Sammamish Parkway Southeast damaged in a Jan. 22 mudslide is expected to reopen in approximately six to nine weeks, in March or early April, according to the City of Bellevue.

The roadway was undercut after a mudslide and a water main break on the weekend after heavy snows hit the region, but it was not been determined whether the water main break caused the slide, or the slide broke the water main, according to the city.

The current detour around the road will remain in effect during the closure, the city reported.

No one was hurt in the mudslide but three homes and a garage located between the main road and the shores of Lake Sammamish were damaged. The cost for the road construction work and repair of a broken water main is estimated at $500,000, the city reported.

The city has acknowledged responsibility and will help owners restore their properties. Those costs are not yet known, the city said.

"Our crews plan to work as quickly as possible to reopen a roadway that is safe and stable for all," said Dave Berg, Bellevue's transportation director. "A few more variables need further discussion; however, this time frame is doable."  

The mudslide exposed the underside of the roadway, leaving nothing but a gap underneath the concrete panels of the road. The city reported that crews have removed the unsupported roadway and hauled out more than 30 dump truck loads of dirt and debris.

West Lake Sammamish Parkway will remain closed from Northeast Second Street at Northup Way to Southeast 26th Street. From the south end, drivers will be detoured to Southeast 26th Street, leading to 168th and 164th avenues Southeast.  From the north end, drivers will be detoured to Northup Way and Northeast Eighth Street. Local access only is permitted between Northeast Second and Southeast 26th streets.

Drivers are encouraged to be aware of the residential areas along the detour and obey the posted speed limit.

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Information from the City of Bellevue and Patch archives were used in this report.