1/13/2006
Repairs started on U.S. 2 at Chucks Slough, closure will continue indefinitely
SANDPOINT - Crews have started repair work on a 20-foot embankment at Chucks Slough near the west city limits of Sandpoint trying to reopen U.S. 2, the Idaho Transportation Department announced. The highway was closed Thursday (Jan. 12) when when erosion from record rainfall in the area caused the collapse of two 48-inch drainage pipes at the bottom of the enbankment.
Local westbound traffic from Sandpoint can get to Chucks Slough but not across it. Eastbound traffic is stopped at Dover. Area residents can use 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.
Water in the slough is still rising. The transportation department brought in three pumps to divert water around the work site. More rain is predicted for this weekend.
The contractor, Interstate Asphalt and Concrete of Sandpoint, began excavation on Friday (Jan. 13). The excavation will be done in a stairstep fashion - as material is excavated, it will be hauled away to prevent it from washing into the slough and out to Lake Pend Orielle.
The contractor will work around the clock to repair the highway, but no estimate on the road reopening is available.