


The Teton Pass highway between Wyoming and Idaho got swept away by a landslide this weekend, causing major disruptions to commuter traffic.
The area saw major temperature increases over the past three days, causing the Teton Range to experience snowmelt, which prompted the landslides.
The roadway at milepost 12.8 “catastrophically failed,” officials said, adding that crews were working on creating a detour around the initial damage, “but the landslide continued to move, taking out the whole road.” No one was injured.
Drivers are recommended to take state Highway 31 to U.S. Highway 26 and then turn left in Alpine on to U.S. Highway 89 instead of driving through the pass. This can add anywhere between 20 to 75 extra minutes of travel. Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg referred to the road damage as “a major disruption.”
“Our DOT team is working with WY officials to assist with emergency repairs. In the meantime, plan ahead if your route takes you over Teton Pass,” Buttigieg wrote. He did not issue a repair completion date, and neither did the Wyoming Department of Transportation.
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“I recognize the significant impacts this closure has to Teton County residents, regional commuters and the local economy,” Gov. Mark Gordon (R-WY) said in a statement. “WYDOT remains on site decisively engaged on fixing the road and restoring connectivity to the Teton Valley. Safety is our utmost priority, and we ask that recreationists and curious residents avoid the area until it can be stabilized.”
Teton County last saw a landslide affect one of its roads in 2011 when 300 feet of Highway 26 was overrun with mud, rock, and trees. The pavement was covered up to depths of up to 50 feet, and the road remained closed for about two weeks.