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US-95 south of Riggins back open after rockslide

US-95_MP-188_finished-slope_November-24-2020-scaled.jpg
Posted at 10:03 AM, Nov 24, 2020
and last updated 2020-11-24 12:03:23-05

RIGGINS, Idaho — The Idaho Transportation Department says long-term repairs to the US-95 rockslide south of Riggins are finished. The slope first fell on July 3 and again on July 10 and has since disrupted traffic in the area near milepost 188.

“With the changes we’ve made, we have greatly reduced the likelihood of another slide blocking US-95 again in the area,” said materials engineer Janet Zarate.

The unstable rock above the highway has been through several rounds of blasting and scaling. ITD says the remaining slope has been reinforced with cable netting bolted into the rock.

Crews reconstructed US-95 and repaved Old Pollock Road last week and the temporary signals that have been used to direct traffic were removed.

“Drivers may notice that the highway had to be shifted to provide room for a larger ditch,” Zarate said.

In the coming weeks, crews will finish installing the guardrail and add fencing on top of it to keep any future loose rock confined to the ditch.

“It’s been a hard push to get to this point, with more than twenty-five other companies involved,” Zarate said. “We appreciate the support given to us by residents and local officials over these last few months.”