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U.S. Highway 26/89 between Hoback Junction and Alpine Junction is expected to be closed in both directions for several days because of a mudslide, according to the Wyoming Department of Transportation website.
It is unknown at this time when the highway will reopen. The agency advised Monday morning commuters to find alternative routes.
WYDOT closed the scenic stretch of highway along the Snake River Canyon south of Jackson and north of Star Valley at 10 p.m. Saturday when conditions became unsafe for workers.
WYDOT maintenance crews worked throughout the day Saturday to keep up with water, rocks and mud reaching the highway.
Ed Smith, WYDOT's Jackson maintenance foreman, described the area as "a big oozing blob," according to a media release.
The slide began to encroach on the westbound lane early Saturday morning. Jackson maintenance crews tried to move the debris in an effort to keep the roadway open, but by Saturday night the slide movement had accelerated to a point where two front-end loaders and six trucks could not keep up.
Sunday morning, Jackson maintenance crews were joined by trucks from the Afton fleet.
John Eddins, WYDOT District 3 engineer, estimated the debris was reaching the highway at the rate of a couple of feet an hour, and it was moving across the roadway as fast as crews could load it.
Additional resources were being brought in to assist the WYDOT crews.
Highway 26/89 is a major access road on Jackson's south side. A 2008 WYDOT report showed an average of 5,740 vehicles per day commuted to and from Jackson via the highway, including people going to and from work and commercial and tourism traffic.
For the latest information, go to the WYDOT website at www.wyoroad.info or call 511.
http://trib.com/news/state-and-regional ... a89f7.html
It is unknown at this time when the highway will reopen. The agency advised Monday morning commuters to find alternative routes.
WYDOT closed the scenic stretch of highway along the Snake River Canyon south of Jackson and north of Star Valley at 10 p.m. Saturday when conditions became unsafe for workers.
WYDOT maintenance crews worked throughout the day Saturday to keep up with water, rocks and mud reaching the highway.
Ed Smith, WYDOT's Jackson maintenance foreman, described the area as "a big oozing blob," according to a media release.
The slide began to encroach on the westbound lane early Saturday morning. Jackson maintenance crews tried to move the debris in an effort to keep the roadway open, but by Saturday night the slide movement had accelerated to a point where two front-end loaders and six trucks could not keep up.
Sunday morning, Jackson maintenance crews were joined by trucks from the Afton fleet.
John Eddins, WYDOT District 3 engineer, estimated the debris was reaching the highway at the rate of a couple of feet an hour, and it was moving across the roadway as fast as crews could load it.
Additional resources were being brought in to assist the WYDOT crews.
Highway 26/89 is a major access road on Jackson's south side. A 2008 WYDOT report showed an average of 5,740 vehicles per day commuted to and from Jackson via the highway, including people going to and from work and commercial and tourism traffic.
For the latest information, go to the WYDOT website at www.wyoroad.info or call 511.
http://trib.com/news/state-and-regional ... a89f7.html
