Wyoming Gov. Mark Gordon says that progress has been made in finding viable options to repair Highway 22 or Teton Pass after part of the highway suffered a “catastrophic landslide.”
Wyoming Department of Transportation officials say that a temporary detour around Teton Pass could be open within weeks, which would help commuters and tourists access the popular town of Jackson, Wyoming from Idaho.
Multiple mudslides happened on the road before the collapse, according to WYDOT.
Early Saturday morning, the Wyoming Department of Transportation said a landslide consumed part of State Highway 22 at milepost 12.8, which connects the resort region with communities around Victor, Idaho. No vehicles were on the highway at the time of the collapse due to a previous mudslide at milepost 15 that shut down part of the highway.
Wyoming Gov. Mark Gordon issued an emergency declaration after the collapse.
On Tuesday, WYDOT said it awarded Evans Construction a $430,000 contract and that the company was already working on the temporary detour, as seen in the images below. It’s estimated the detour could be completed in about two weeks.
“Currently, WYDOT geologists and engineers are confident they can build a safe, temporary detour around the slide area using local fill material and paving two temporary lanes,” WYDOT said.
The highway is a direct route to and from Idaho and two popular national parks, Yellowstone and Grand Teton. Many who work in Jackson Hole use Teton Pass to commute to and from the area. Without a direct route, a 30-minute commute takes at least 1 hour and 35 minutes.
Despite the road closure, U.S. Forest Service and WYDOT officials are working to provide access to hiking and recreation locations around the slide area. According to WYDOT, trails on the east side of the pass are open and can be accessed from the Trail Creek trailhead at the end of Old Pass Road.
“WYDOT asks recreationists to stay on the Jackson side of the pass and to please not descend west toward the slide path,” the department said.
WYDOT engineers and geologists continue investigating the cause of the Teton Pass landslide to develop a long-term repair plan.
“WYDOT geology crews have been drilling into the slide area and investigating the soil profiles to confirm the cause of the landslide and to collect better data for potential reconstruction,” the department said.
Crews are also managing the mudslide at milepost 15, where teams are working to install a box culvert. The goal is to complete the culvert when the road opens with the detour for milepost 12.8.
Wyoming Department of Transportation geology crews drilling into the Big Fill slide area to investigate soil profiles to confirm the cause of the Teton Pass landslide and to collect better data for potential reconstruction.
Governor Gordon said there are alternative routes to Teton Pass, and people should still plan to visit Wyoming.
“People shouldn’t change their plans just because of this. It’s important to know that we are addressing it. Maybe a little bit of a delay, but the summer is up and running, and it’s a great time to come to Wyoming,” Gordon said.
WYDOT advised travelers to sign up for updates from 511 Notify for the latest road conditions and closures.
