A multi-million dollar effort to repair a section of the Chief Joseph Scenic Highway that was damaged by a landslide has been suspended until May.

Condon-Johnson & Associates of Kent, Washington, is leading the $5.8 million project to repair 0.2 miles of the highway near the summit of Dead Indian Pass.

The contractor and the Wyoming Department of Transportation were able to return the section of Wyo. Highway 296 to two lanes of unrestricted traffic, with a 30 mph speed limit.

“The roadway is not quite built to dirt grade,” said WYDOT spokesman Cody Beers. “The roadway has been topped with asphalt rotomill tailings from the detour and some that were hauled in by the contractor for an all-weather surface.”

He added that WYDOT has taken over snow removal for the winter.

“We want to say thanks to everyone, including residents of Sunlight and Crandall, for the help in getting to this point on this project,” Beers said Thursday. “The project waste area will be shaped next spring and top-soiled when work resumes.”

Under its contract with WYDOT, Condon-Johnson was required to finish all work except the chip seal and reclamation by Oct. 31.

The WYDOT webcam stationed at the overlook is currently out of commission.

“The camera has lost its signal to the wyoroad.info network and is going to require a technician and a site visit for repairs in the cell modem,” Beers said Thursday. He said the department expected to have the webcam back online in about a week.