A large chunk of a mountain roadway in Wyoming's Grand Tetons has "catastrophically" collapsed, severing a key transportation link for several communities and prime tourist destinations like Jackson Hole.
Drone videos show a massive section of Teton Pass at the 12.8 mile marker sloughed off to the cliffs below with jagged pavement above. A guardrail can de seen dangling in midair.
Miraculously, there were no injuries, despite road crews on the scene, in what officials labeled a "catastrophic failure" of the highway.
The road will be closed indefinitely. Experts were on the scene soon after the the collapse Saturday to begin to access repair plans.
The roadway at milepost 12.8 on Teton Pass has catastrophically failed and a long term closure is expected. No crews were hurt in the process, and no equipment was damaged. WYDOT is now reviewing a long term solution and repairs. #idwx #wywx @NWSRiverton pic.twitter.com/uRIVT5vOqX
— NWS Pocatello (@NWSPocatello) June 8, 2024
Gov. Mark Gordon declared a state of emergency and met with transportation officials and members of the Department of Homeland Security to "coordinate a response to the catastrophic landslide that has closed Teton Pass ... and develop a long-term solution to rebuild the roadway," he said in a statement.
At "this point, we do not have an estimated timeline for the road to reopen," he said.
"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," the Wyoming Department of Transportation (WYDOT) said in a statement on Facebook.
"WYDOT engineers, surveyors and geologists mobilized quickly to try to maintain highway viability as long as possible, but catastrophic failure could not be avoided. WYDOT remains on site decisively engaged on fixing the road and restoring connectivity to the Teton Valley."
Early warnings of the disaster occurred last Thursday when a sudden crack and level drop in the roadway caused a motorcycle accident.
"That crack and that drop started to move a lot," Wyoming Department of Transportation spokesperson Stephanie Harsha told the Associated Press. A paving crew temporarily patched the road then.
A mudslide Friday closed the road again, and the major road section crumbled early the following day.
Catastrophic failure of Teton Pass between Jackson Hole and Victor Idaho. It is a key artery for commuters and commerce. Going to be a rough summer for employees and businesses! pic.twitter.com/EhjgyCmvnl
— Mark Lyon (@TurfSimba) June 8, 2024
Hasha said drivers are now left with an alternate route between Jackson and the area of Victor, Idaho, that goes more than 60 miles out of the way and will add "quite a bit to any commute."
