Jackson, Wyo — A huge chunk of the winding Teton Pass collapsed, leaving fissures of cracked dirt along a mountain pass. The mountain trail is an important link between the small towns of eastern Idaho and the tourist destinations of Jackson, Wyoming.
Authorities said Saturday that the road was closed when a section of the road collapsed. Authorities said a mudslide occurred several miles away, amid continuing concerns about cracks and falls in the road that first came to attention Thursday after a motorcycle crash. It’s unclear how long it will take to rebuild the road, which is an expensive commuter route for people who work in Jackson but live across the border in Idaho. Jackson is also close to the popular Grand Teton National Park.
Stephanie Harsha, Wyoming Department of Transportation District 3 spokeswoman, said one of the causes of motorcycle crashes was cracks and falls in the roadway. Geologists and engineers dispatched to the area on Thursday “noticed that the cracks and falls were starting to move a lot,” she said. She said paving crews temporarily repaired the site and traffic began moving along the highway again that night.
The opening was short. About 3:30 a.m. Friday, the road was closed again after maintenance crews encountered a landslide on a section of the pass a few miles away, she said. The road remained closed Friday due to cracks and more pronounced declines while the problem was resolved, she said. Harsha said crews left overnight trying to find a detour around the site. “By 5 o’clock this morning, WYDOT discovered the roadway was completely destroyed,” Harsha said.
“We were very lucky that no crew members were injured. “The equipment was not damaged,” he said. “So now engineers and geologists are conducting a geological assessment of the pass. “They were watching it all day.”
The social media unit said the road at 12.8 mile post was “catastrophically failing.” Governor Mark Gordon signed an executive order declaring a state of emergency. His office said it would help the state access additional resources from the Federal Highway Administration to begin repair work.
“We are closely monitoring the ongoing situation and Wyoming Department of Transportation staff are working diligently to develop long-term solutions to rebuild this important roadway,” Gordon said in a statement. “I recognize the significant impact this closure will have on Teton County residents, local commuters and the local economy.”
Harsha said the alternative route to Jackson for people living in the Victor, Idaho area is “disruptive” by more than 60 miles (97 kilometers) and “adds quite a bit to the commute time.”
