After the collapse of the Big Fill landslide on Wyoming State Highway 22 through Teton Pass on June 8, the roadway is set to reopen to traffic on Friday, June 28 with a detour in place. The Wyoming Department of Transportation has been working diligently to create a paved, two-lane detour that is 600 feet long but 11% steeper than the original roadway, leading to a lower speed limit of 20 mph.
Wyoming Governor Mark Gordon commended the efforts of WYDOT in quickly mobilizing to construct the temporary road and ensuring the safety of motorists. The detour will have a weight limit of 60,000 lbs and meets federal requirements. A sudden temperature change caused the collapse, saturating the material under the roadway and causing the clay soil to fail.
While a long-term solution is still being reviewed, building a bridge in the area is deemed unfeasible due to the steep grades of the pass. Wyoming officials are looking into securing emergency federal funding to finance the reconstruction. Fortunately, no one was hurt during the collapse as the roadway was already closed on the day of the failure, thanks to a nearby mudslide event.
With the road set to reopen, residents, commuting workforce, and visitors are encouraged to utilize the detour. The Wyoming Department of Transportation continues to work on the next steps for the full rebuild, prioritizing motorist safety throughout the process.
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