It's going to be a long summer in Wyoming. The state's crucial Teton Pass, a road near Jackson, Wyoming collapsed on Saturday. This occurred due to a landslide in the area.
It's already proven to be a headache for both locals and travelers, adding a significant amount of travel time. According to the Wyoming Department of Transportation, the roadway at milepost 12.8 on Teton Pass "catastrophically failed." As you can see by the photo, the roadway literally fell away, crumbling into nothing.
"We understand this highway is a lifeline for commuters, deliveries, medical care access and tourism. Especially with limited alternatives and the summer season upon us," WYDOT Director Darin Westby said in a statement. Fortunately, no one got injured during the landslide. At the time, crews had the road closed as they worked to fix a crack that was forming in the road.
Wyoming's Teton Pass Closed
"I am grateful for the efforts of WYDOT staff to protect public safety during this developing situation. And am thankful no one was injured during this incident," Gov. Mark Gordon said in a statement. So what's next? Well, according to the governor, geologists and engineers are seeing how much damage was done. They will then develop a plan on repairing the road. However, the timeline for all of this is murky at this point.
"At this point, we do not have an estimated timeline for the road to reopen," Gordon said. "I recognize the impacts this closure has to Teton County residents, regional commuters and the local economy, and we are in direct communication with local officials."
Meanwhile, Stephanie Harsha, a spokesperson for District 3 of the Wyoming Department of Transportation, told The Associated Press that the alternative route adds a significant amount of time. The route goes for more than 60 miles out of the direct path.
