A section of West Lake Sammamish Parkway Southeast, closed to vehicles since a Jan. 22 mudslide, will not reopen for six to nine weeks, Bellevue officials said Friday.

West Lake Sammamish Parkway will remain closed from Northeast Second Street at Northup Way to Southeast 26th Street until late March, early April. 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.

No one was hurt in the mudslide but four properties were damaged.

The City Council declared a state of emergency Monday to help speed up repairs to the water main break and the surrounding roads. The city has signed several consultants to help with the work, with three contracts totaling approximately $105,000. According to figures listed by the city, the reconstruction of the roadway embankment will cost between $350,000 and $1.5 million, depending on the scope of work.

Although it has not been determined whether the water main break caused the mudslide or the mudslide caused the water main break, the city has acknowledged responsibility and will help owners restore their properties. Those costs are not yet known.

“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.”

When the steep slope gave way on the east side of the Parkway, the material under the roadway slid down the hill. What remained of the road was a section of concrete panels with nothing but air beneath them. Since then, significant progress has been made to remove the unsupported roadway and haul out more than 30 dump truck loads of dirt and debris.

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