The bluff under Coupeville on Whidbey Island is eroding. A large crack just opened up and prompted the city to put up safety measures.

The fissure opened up a few weeks ago, forcing officials to shut down the nearby sidewalk just a few blocks up from the historic downtown core of Coupeville.

Every year, thousands of tourists visit the town, which was founded in 1852. Several shops in town have stood open for more than 150 years.

But many of the waterfront businesses are now propped up by pylons and don’t have much land to give.

The city is looking at solutions – like a retaining wall, which would be expensive.

But for now, they’re turning to less expensive options, such as limiting truck traffic in the area, which is a relief to homeowners watching the cracks grow.

“We were concerned about the weight on the road because of the big garbage trucks and recycle trucks and propane truck – actually you can feel the vibrations sometimes when they go by,” says one local resident, Mary Young.

Geotechnical experts say the bluff is losing about two inches a year, which adds up to about eight feet over the next 50 years.

That may not sound like a lot, but most buildings have little to lose as it is.

The mayor has even talked about cutting traffic down two or three blocks. And city officials know something will have to be done. But it’s unclear how long that will take and what it will cost.”

This is where the current erosion is:

It sounds like Coupeville City Council has it work cut out over the next few years. I wonder if our taxes will be going up.

Stay tuned 🙂