CNN
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A vital highway connecting Idaho and Wyoming has been closed indefinitely after a “catastrophic landslide” on Saturday caused parts of it to crack and then collapse, authorities said.
Wyoming Governor Mark Gordon said in a Facebook post that there is no date set for when Teton Pass, which connects Victor, Idaho, with Jackson, Wyoming, will reopen.
The initial cracks appeared across both lanes on Thursday morning, the Wyoming Department of Transportation (WYDOT) said in a Facebook post at the time.
The crack across the lanes dropped about eight inches vertically in places, creating dangerous driving conditions. Repairs were made and traffic resumed until Friday, when a landslide in another location caused the road to be closed.
The road where the first cracks appeared collapsed Saturday morning, WYDOT said, adding that the road is “suffering catastrophic failure and an extended closure is expected.”
“WYDOT crews, along with contract crews from Evans Construction, were on site building a road around the affected area when the landslide continued to progress, causing the entire road to collapse,” WYDOT added. “No workers were injured during the operation and no equipment was damaged.”
Wyoming Department of Transportation
Cracks are seen on the road at Teton Pass on Friday, June 7, 2024, the day before the “catastrophic collapse.”
Gordon said Saturday he met with officials from the Wyoming Department of Transportation and the Wyoming Department of Homeland Security to coordinate a response to the “catastrophic mudslide.”
“I want to thank the Wyoming Department of Transportation employees who worked hard to protect public safety as this situation unfolded and I am pleased that no one was injured in this incident,” the governor said.
Wyoming Department of Transportation
On June 7, 2024, another landslide caused the road to be closed.
According to the Ministry of Transport, work to repair the cracked road and landslides was expected to continue until Saturday, after which the cracked section of the road collapsed.
“WYDOT engineers, surveyors and geologists mobilized quickly to try to preserve the highway’s viability for as long as possible, but a catastrophic collapse was inevitable. WYDOT remains on the ground and fully committed to repairing the road and restoring connectivity to the Teton Valley,” WYDOT Commissioner Darin Westby said in a statement.
Westby Transportation said it was looking into long-term solutions and repairs to the highway, and Westby urged the public to stay away from the scene until the situation stabilizes.
According to the U.S. Department of Transportation, the Teton Pass Corridor “serves as a vital commuter route, facilitating the movement of goods and services that are the lifeblood of Wyoming and Idaho’s growing regional economies.”
