Three weeks after a landslide, Wyoming will reopen a highway critical for commuters

JACKSON, Wyoming (AP) — Crews were almost done building a impermanent way connected Tuesday astir a landslide that closed a captious roadworthy for thousands of workers successful a occidental Wyoming edifice town.

Wyoming Department of Transportation officials were eyeing Friday to reopen Wyoming Highway 22. The roadworthy complete Teton Pass adjacent nan Idaho authorities statement has been closed since nan landslide sent some lanes crashing into a heavy valley June 8.

No 1 was wounded erstwhile nan pavement gave way. The roadworthy was already closed because different landslide had washed mud and debris crossed nan roadworthy nearby.

Yet nan illness was a large headache for thousands of commuters. Many group activity successful Jackson — a skis and tourism hub astatine nan doorstep of Grand Teton and Yellowstone nationalist parks wherever nan mean location costs millions — and unrecorded successful much affordable eastbound Idaho.

The destroyed road has been forcing them to return a different way to nan south, adding complete an hr to their commute each way.

Cars will request to slow down done nan impermanent conception to 20 miles per hr (32 kilometers per hour) but won’t person to stop, said Bob Hammond, an technologist pinch nan Wyoming Department of Transportation. The 2 paved lanes will span astir 600-700 feet (180-230 meters).

“We person a steeper grade, which really isn’t that large of a problem. But nan turns are a small tighter,” Hammond said during a news media tract circuit Tuesday.

A imperishable hole costing possibly upward of $20 cardinal will return longer, Hammond said.