Date:  Friday, March 07, 2008

Contact: Al Gilson, Communications Manager
WSDOT Eastern Region
2714 N. Mayfair
Spokane, WA  99207
(509)324-6015
gilsona@wsdot.wa.gov

METALINE FALLS – A “sinkhole” has developed on State Route 31 just north of the Town of Metaline Falls in Pend Oreille County (at milepost 15).

Crews discovered the hole yesterday about three feet away from the roadway. The hole was about 7 feet in diameter and appeared to be about 12 feet deep. Personnel immediately cordoned off the lane next to the hole and began flagging traffic, allowing only alternating traffic one way at a time past the hole.

Overnight, the hole enlarged somewhat and undermined part of the roadway surface.
Crews will remain on site, 24 hours per day to direct vehicles at this location and to monitor the situation.

Beginning on Monday morning, March 10th at 8:00 a.m., crews will close SR 31 to all traffic just north of Metaline Falls to begin repairs of the highway. They will excavate the entire roadway and re-build the underlying base with soil, rock, and gravel then repave the highway with temporary pavement. The work should take about four days to complete. Permanent paving will be placed when hot-mix asphalt becomes available.

While the repairs are underway, SR 31 through traffic will be detoured onto Sullivan Lake Road from Ione to just north of Metaline Falls. NO HEAVY TRUCKS WILL BE ALLOWED ON THIS DETOUR. Sullivan Lake Road is under “Stage 3 Restrictions” Only cars, pickups, and light trucks are allowed. In addition, the Ione Bridge is also weight restricted to legal loads only and one truck at a time.

During the repair work that starts Monday, Motorists will reach Metaline and Metaline Falls via SR 31, but ONLY from the south.

For information or the specifications for road weight restrictions on Sullivan Lake Road, contact Pend Oreille County at (509)447-4513, or check their website at:
http://www.co.pend-oreille.wa.us/ and click on the red banner at the top of the page.

Freight truck traffic on the SR 31 corridor will need to detour via alternate state highways such as SR 20 and US 2, US 395, and/or US 95 to reach their destinations during this repair work.
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