7/25/2011
Reed Hollinshead
ITD Communication
208-334-8881
reed.hollinshead@itd.idaho.gov
UPDATE: Repairs to Idaho 55 washout may take until weekend
MARSING - After assessing damages, Idaho Transportation Department crews now believe repairs on Idaho 55 near the junction with U.S. 95 may not be completed and the road reopened until this coming weekend.
A failing culvert, three feet in diameter, caused the washout of a 20-foot section of highway about a half-mile west of Marsing Sunday between 3:30 p.m. and 4 p.m., ITD announced.
A detour route is in place. Drivers are being directed to Pershall, Edison and Thompson roads. Detour signs are in place to move traffic around the work area. The detour adds about two miles to the route.
An excavator opened the area above the culvert and removed debris Sunday night to minimize the washing of material down the channel and to the Snake River about a mile away. The remaining area of roadway was trenched through the night to allow the water to flow from one side to the other and not interrupt service to irrigators downstream or risk a collapse of the culvert, which would create a dam and water over the roadway, expanding the area of damage.