1/12/2006
U.S. 2 closure in Sandpoint expected to last indefinitely
SANDPOINT - Erosion on a 20-foot embankment at Chucks Slough near the west city limits of Sandpoint led to unsafe driving conditions and an indefinite closure of U.S. 2 this afternoon (Jan. 12), the Idaho Transportation Department announced.
Local westbound traffic from Sandpoint can get to Chucks Slough but not across it. Eastbound traffic is stopped at Dover. Local residents can utilize local routes they are familiar with, but most of those roads have load limits and are closed to commercial traffic. The state highway detour from Sandpoint going west is to take U.S. 95 south to Idaho 54, west on 54 and north on Idaho 41 back to U.S. 2.
Sandpoint has experienced record rainfall in the last two weeks. High runoff in Chucks Slough eroded the embankment to the point that the two 48-inch pipes carrying drainage under U.S. 2 apparently collapsed. As of 2:30 p.m. Thursday, the embankment had dropped about three feet, leaving gaps in places where daylight showed between the pavement and the embankment.
Transportation department staff coordinated with local government agencies and utilities to secure the area. Avista Corportation capped its natural gas pipeline that runs through the embankment.
"We have begun ordering and securing resources to repair the embankment and highway," said District 1 Engineer Stokes. "People need to brace for some down time."
The closure will last for days at least. Engineers will make a better estimate of repair time after they can assess the damage to the embankment.