Rockslide Impedes Morning Commute

One car damaged but no injuries resulting from Friday morning rockslide

by LCN, Featured photo above courtesy James Ashmore

A rockslide just below the Knapp’s Hill Tunnel on Hwy. 97-A closed traffic in both directions earlier this morning. WSDOT and WSP responded to 911 calls from motorists and found one car damaged but no injuries resulting from the slide.

The roadway has been cleared and traffic is moving again in both lanes.

WSP Trooper John Bryant indicated that travelers “did the right thing” by assisting others and turning traffic around until the troopers arrived.

The rockslide appears to have been triggered by an early morning rain shower which loosened the soil on the hillside. WSDOT Transportation Engineer Joey Burnell indicated “it’s hard to predict if additional rocks will come down, but we did survey the scene and determined the road was safe to open back up.”

Photo courtesy of Washington State Patrol

Photo courtesy of Washington State Patrol

DOT is seeking public comment on rock scaling project to take place next spring

WSDOT recently held open houses in Entiat and Chelan to garner feedback about a three-pronged rock scaling project planned for spring of 2020. For those who were unable to attend the open houses, public comment is being sought online to discuss construction and road closure alternatives. Currently option one is the most favored. The deadline for public comment is September 15th.

Burnell encourages interested individuals to add their public comment online. He told LCN that public feedback will weigh into the final decision about which option is chosen. However, he stated, road closure plans must take into account school bus schedules to make sure the children get home safely and LINK commuter bus routes.

There are three separate scaling sites identified in the 2020 plan, however, the location of this morning’s rockslide is not on the target list.

Burnell told LCN that “”We have reached out to our geo-techs asking them to evaluate the tunnel site as soon as possible.” He went on to say “It’s probably too late to add to the current project but that doesn’t mean another project couldn’t be created if funding became available.”