Wyoming — On June 8th, the people of Idaho and Wyoming awakened to a grim sight: Milepost 12.8 on Teton Pass had collapsed due to a landslide. This meant that Teton Pass would be closed to drivers for a while, as some feared it would take months to get it back to being operational. This was a major blow for commuters who live in Idaho and Wyoming, as it’s the most direct route to Jackson Hole.
However, crews devised a quick solution: building a detour near the gap. After a few weeks of construction, the Cowboy State Daily reports that Teton Pass will reopen on Friday, June 28th. The paved detour will have 12-foot lanes, just like the rest of the highway. Due to its steepness, the speed limit in this new stretch will be 20 mph.
This reopening, which comes approximately three weeks after the landslide, is thanks to the hard work of the workers who devised a quick solution. WYDOT department engineer Bob Hammond deserves a special shoutout, as his detour idea made this comeback possible. Additional credit goes to Evans Construction, Federal Highway Administration, Idaho & Wyoming Departments of Transportation, and Wyoming Governor Mark Gordon. Who said that America can’t build things quickly?
Click here to read the full article from the Cowboy State Daily, which details the tremendous effort made by WYDOT and many others to get the road active again.
Image Credits: Wyoming Department of Transportation