A landslide has destroyed a large portion of the main road into Jackson, Wyoming, gateway to Yellowstone National Park and the Grand Teton mountain range, just as the busy summer tourist season is about to begin.
Dramatic photos show the gradual collapse of Teton Pass Road, from a few small cracks to large sections of pavement being completely missing in just a few days.
The incident began Thursday when Wyoming Highway 22 was briefly closed as crews worked to repair cracks and potholes in the road that had caused the motorcycle accident.
Geologists and engineers sent to inspect the road noticed “significant crack and sinkhole movement,” said Stephanie Harsha, spokeswoman for the Wyoming Department of Transportation’s District 3.
Paving crews temporarily repaired the road and it reopened later that evening.
However, conditions on the road worsened on Friday morning when it was closed again due to a dramatic landslide. The Wyoming Department of Transportation posted on social media:.
Workers then noticed the damage to the road was more evident – pictures released by the Ministry of Transport showed large cracks – and just hours later the road had suffered a “catastrophic collapse”.
“We are really lucky that no workers were injured and no equipment was damaged,” Harsha said. “We currently have engineers and geologists doing a geological assessment of the pass. They’ve been looking at the pass all day.”
It wasn’t immediately clear how long it would take to reopen the highway, which is a key route for people who live across the border in Idaho and work in Jackson, a popular tourist town that serves as a gateway for many visitors to Yellowstone and Grand Teton national parks.
Wyoming Department of Transportation Commissioner Darin Westby addressed those concerns in a statement, saying this catastrophic failure was inevitable.
“This highway is a lifeline for commuters, deliveries, medical access and tourism, and we know how important it is, especially now with limited alternatives and summer fast approaching. WYDOT engineers, surveyors and geologists mobilized quickly to try to keep the highway afloat for as long as possible, but a catastrophic collapse was inevitable,” Westby said.
“WYDOT remains on the scene working hard to repair the road and restore connectivity to the Teton Valley. Safety is our number one priority, and we ask recreational users and curious residents to avoid the area until the situation stabilizes.”
The alternative route between Jackson and the Victor, Idaho, area would be a detour of more than 60 miles, “putting a real strain on the commute,” Harsha said.
Gov. Mark Gordon signed an executive order declaring a state of emergency, which his office said will allow the state to obtain additional funding from the Federal Highway Administration to begin making needed repairs.
With post wire.
