Limited access to Elk City restored March 24
Travel through the blocked stretch of Idaho 14 west of Elk City resumed on a limited basis for local traffic only Thursday morning, March 24, after crews successfully reduced a large boulder threatening highway cleanup into smaller, manageable pieces.
The boulder, measuring 30 foot tall by 80 feet wide, had to be reduced in size for work on the highway below to proceed safely and on schedule.
A one-lane, temporary road at the slide site officially opened to local traffic daily from 6 a.m. to 7 a.m., and again from 5:30 p.m. to 6:30 p.m., weather permitting. Flaggers are located at each end of the temporary road to safely guide traffic through the work area. Emergency vehicles, coordinated through the Sheriff’s Office and the Idaho Transportation Department, are allowed through the slide site any time it is necessary and safe for them to do so.
Idaho 14 is closed overnight and every day from 7 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. from milepost 34.5 to milepost 43. Closure is necessary for safety and for trucks to haul landslide debris to the Crooked River waste site.
“We thank the residents of Elk City for their patience while crews work to open a safe, reliable route to their homes and businesses. Reopening this highway has been a top priority for ITD from the start,” said ITD District Engineer Dave Kuisti. “We also appreciate the hard work of all the people and agencies involved that have helped Elk City residents during this time.”
“Since the emergency work began two weeks ago, our contractor, WestCo, has achieved the milestones we hoped to reach and have been on time or ahead of schedule with the work,” he added.
A Feb. 18 landslide closed 500 feet of Idaho 14 after rock and debris slid onto the roadway disrupting access to residents of Elk City, Red River, Orogrande, American River and Dixie. Traffic in and out of the area was limited to weather-dependent Forest Service road/trails 1199 and 1858.
View video of slide
View video of rock blast
View video of cleanup work
Published 03-25-16