Massive landslide shuts down vital mountain roadway linking Wyoming and Idaho.
Gov. Mark Gordon of Wyoming mentioned on Facebook that there's no specific timeline for reopening Teton Pass, which joins Victor, Idaho and Jackson, Wyoming.
An initial split in the road appeared on Thursday morning, covering both travel paths, as per the Wyoming Department of Transportation (WYDOT) on Facebook. The break dropped vertically approximately 8 inches in certain locations, making it unsafe for driving. A patch was installed, and normal traffic resumed until another landslide in a different location closed the road on Friday.
By Saturday morning, the location where the crack first occurred saw the roadway collapse, with WYDOT announcing that a longer term closure was anticipated. WYDOT crews, along with Evans Construction contractors, had been working on a detour around the damaged spot. However, further landslides caused the road to cave in, taking the entire road with it. No harm came to any of the crew members, and no equipment was damaged.
Gordon met with WYDOT and Wyoming Office of Homeland Security officials on Saturday to plan a response to this "catastrophic landslide." He expressed appreciation for WYDOT's efforts in ensuring public safety through this evolving situation and added that no one was wounded during the event.
WYDOT had anticipated the work to repair the cracked road and the resulting landslide to extend until Saturday. However, the section of the road that had cracked caved in.
"WYDOT engineers, surveyors, and geologists promptly mobilized to keep the highway functioning as long as possible, but a catastrophic failure could not be prevented. WYDOT continues to be present at the site, actively involved in fixing the road and reestablishing a link to Teton Valley," WYDOT Director Darin Westby remarked in a statement.
WYDOT is examining potential long-term solutions and repairs to the roadway and proposes that people avoid the site until it is stabilized.
The Teton Pass corridor acts as a vital commuting route and contributes to the transportation of essential goods and services that support the expanding economies in Wyoming and Idaho, as stated by the US Department of Transportation.
Read also:
Despite the efforts of WYDOT and their contractors to establish a detour and repair the damaged road, additional landslides resulted in the complete collapse of the roadway, affecting both US states.
Gov. Gordon, along with other officials, is coordinating responses to ensure the safety of the public and discuss potential long-term solutions with the US Department of Transportation, understanding the significance of this road for both Wyoming and Idaho's economies.
