More Rock Slides in Wind River Canyon
Written by Andrew-Rossi on May 4, 2017
Another rock slide in Wind River Canyon closed the highway temporarily again early yesterday morning.
According to Wyoming Department of Transportation maintenance supervisor Clint Huckfeldt of Thermopolis, the rock slide covered both driving lanes of the highway at the north end of Wind River Canyon, took out about 100 feet of guardrail, and damaged the highway shoulder, closing the highway for about 90 minutes.
Around the region, WYDOT workers are busy monitoring road conditions in other hazardous areas. A slide on the Chief Joseph Scenic Highway continues to move about 20 miles west of the highway’s intersection with Highway 120. WYDOT District Engineer Pete Hallsten of Basin said the Chief Joseph Highway slide is, quote, complex.
WYDOT workers have placed water barriers in place of damaged guardrail at the slide site near Dead Indian Creek, and a reduced speed limit of 30 mph is in place.