Date:
Tuesday, May 20, 2008
Contact:
Al Gilson, Communications Manager
WSDOT Eastern Region
2714 N. Mayfair
Spokane, WA 99207
(509)324-6015
Temporary repairs are now underway on State Route 206 just below the entrance to Mt. Spokane State Park. The contractor had equipment on site by late morning.
The WSDOT contracted with the S.A. Gonzales Construction Company of Newman Lake for the emergency repairs. It may take two or three days of work to make the highway passable to single-lane traffic to provide access for the residents and State Park personnel.
The contractor will first excavate and place a 48 inch culvert pipe across the roadway to divert the flowing water. Then work will begin to rebuild the roadway with rock, fill, and gravel material to enable vehicles to cross. One of the big challenges is getting the heavy equipment through the washout area to the culvert location.
Water cascading through small creek tributaries washed out a section of the highway late Sunday, May 18th. Subsequent rain showers on Tuesday added to the already heavy snowmelt flow, completely destroying about 1,000 feet of highway.
State Route 206 is now closed from just below the State Park gates with no access to the summit. Residents who live above the closure are not able to cross the damaged area on SR 206. There are no detour routes available.
View photos of the washout on Flickr.
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