Cloudy and Windy, 61° F
Carlson said the decision was made "for the safety of the traveling public.”
This week's heavy rains and snow in Hot Springs and Fremont counties are causing unstable slope conditions inside Wind River Canyon. Most of the current rock fall is …
This item is available in full to subscribers.
The Powell Tribune has expanded its online content. To continue reading, you will need to either log in to your subscriber account, or purchase a subscription.
If you are a current print subscriber, you can set up a free web account by clicking here.
If you already have a web account, but need to reset it, you can do so by clicking here.
If you would like to purchase a subscription click here.
Please log in to continue |
|
U.S. Highway 20/Wyo. Highway 789 closed through Wind River Canyon Tuesday night because of falling rocks, according to Wyoming Department of Transportation District Engineer Shelby Carlson of Basin.
Carlson said the decision was made "for the safety of the traveling public.”
This week's heavy rains and snow in Hot Springs and Fremont counties are causing unstable slope conditions inside Wind River Canyon. Most of the current rock fall is about 8-10 miles south of Thermopolis in an area called Big Windy. Big Windy is the area where the department placed a web camera several years ago that's visible at www.wyoroad.info.
WyDOT crews were working Tuesday evening to clear rockfall from the highway inside the canyon until nearly dark, but due to concerns for workers' safety, crews pulled out and the highway was closed at each end of the canyon.
"We will assess conditions in the morning. Digital-message signs will be deployed to each end of Wind River Canyon to advise motorists of the rock fall hazard when the highway reopens," Carlson said.
It’s a nasty night in the Wind River Canyon, said Cody Beers, spokesman for WyDOT’s District 5, which covers the Big Horn Basin, Fremont and Teton counties.
