ELK CITY, Idaho – Contracting crews began clearing material from the Idaho 14 landslide on Wednesday.
Officials from the Idaho Bureau of Homeland Security said Idaho Governor C.L. “Butch” Otter issued a State Disaster Emergency Declaration due to the extensive damage caused by the landslide. The declaration was approved by the Governor on Wednesday.
The declaration ensures that all available resources will be brought to bear in the landslide response. The primary focus areas are the safety of the residents in the Elk City area with restricted access into and out of their communities.
Officials from the Idaho Transportation Department said the crews are expected to clear an estimated 100,000 cubic yards of material that closed a section of Idaho 14 on February 18.
Six contractors are contributing a half-dozen dump trucks and a pair of excavators to break up rocks, load and haul material away from the Grangeville side of the slide.
ITD has also contracted with another agency to gain access to the top of the slide to remove trees.
“Our immediate goal is to create a path to be able to move equipment and trucks to the upriver/Elk City side, so we can work from both ends,” said ITD north-central Operations Engineer Bob Schumacher.
A timetable to open one new lane has not yet been determined, but ITD said they will open one lane to traffic as soon as it is safe to do so.
ITD said their goal is to completely open the roadway to the traveling public in four to five weeks. A Forest Service Road is being used as an emergency alternate route until ITD clears and repairs Highway 14.
