Highway 97 is eerily quiet near Christine Harwood鈥檚 home north of Summerland.

Harwood, who lives on North Beach Road, just north of the rock slide area, said the normally busy highway now has little traffic.

The rock slide occurred on Jan 31 and since Feb. 2, the highway has bee closed at the site.

鈥淚t鈥檚 been challenging,鈥� Harwood said. 鈥淚 haven鈥檛 been to Summerland for a week now.鈥�

And during the road closure, there have also been power outages as crews have been working on the slide area. 鈥淭hat was another challenge in this weather,鈥� she said.

Because she lives close to the community, she normally comes into Summerland for business and appointments.

But now, since the road closure, the short drive has turned into a trek of several hours.

While crews are at work on the road, there is no set date when it will reopen.

鈥淭he uncertainty is probably what鈥檚 been the most stressful for me,鈥� Harwood said.

Sue Eden, who also lives north of the slide area, has had to cope with the closure.

During the road closure, she has taken a lengthy detour into Summerland where she works. She then stays at a hotel for a couple of days before going back home.

鈥淚t鈥檚 an inconvenience, but it鈥檚 nobody鈥檚 fault,鈥� she said.

Her work allows her a flexible schedule, but she wonders how the road closure would affect her if she had set hours at work.

For Eden, this is not the first time she has been affected by a highway closure.

The 2008 rock fault, which resulted in a three-week highway closure, meant lengthy detours for her to get to and from Summerland.

But despite the delays, her attitude is positive.

鈥淲e鈥檙e comfortable and we鈥檙e not isolated,鈥� she said. 鈥淚t just takes a little longer.鈥�

Meanwhile Harwood is concerned about the future of the highway as she wonders whether another rock slide could also occur in the area.

鈥淲ill it happen again?鈥� she asks. 鈥淢y concern is the long-term stability.鈥�

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