"A massive landslide shuts down a vital mountain road connecting Wyoming and Idaho."
The governor of Wyoming, Mark Gordon, announced on Facebook that there's no estimated date for reopening Teton Pass, which links Victor, Idaho, and Jackson, Wyoming.
Early on Thursday, a crack appeared in both lanes of the pass, as per the Wyoming Department of Transportation (WYDOT) on their Facebook post. This crack happened vertically and dropped nearly 8 inches in some areas, leading to unsafe driving. A temporary patch was placed to resume traffic until a mudslide at a different location on Friday closed the road.
On Saturday morning, the area where the crack occurred collapsed, according to WYDOT, who added that the roadway had "catastrophically failed" and a long-term closure was expected.
WYDOT crews, along with Evans Construction contractors, were attempting to construct a detour around the damage, but a landslide at a different location took out the entire road. Fortunately, no one was hurt, and no equipment was damaged.
Gordon met with WYDOT and Wyoming Office of Homeland Security officials on Saturday to coordinate a response. He expressed gratitude for WYDOT staff's efforts to maintain public safety and ensure no one was injured during the incident.
The team had anticipated the repairs and landslide work to conclude on Saturday, according to the Department of Transportation. However, the roadway collapse just added more complication.
Westby, the WYDOT Director, stated in a statement that they had quickly assembled engineers, surveyors, and geologists to maintain highway viability but it just wasn't possible to prevent a catastrophic failure. They're still working to repair the cracked section of the road and restore connectivity to the Teton Valley.
WYDOT is currently reviewing long-term solutions and repairs to the highway, and Westby asked the public to stay away from the site until it's safe and stable.
The Teton Pass route plays a significant role in transportation, serving as a commuter route and a lifeline for the growing regional economies in Wyoming and Idaho, according to the US Department of Transportation.
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