Date:  Thursday, January 29, 2009

Contact: Colin Newell, Chehalis Area Project Engineer, (360) 740-8603 (Chehalis)
Abbi Russell, WSDOT Communications, (360) 905-2057 (Vancouver)

CHEHALIS – Crews will reopen a section of SR 508 near Bear Canyon (mileposts 20 to 22) in central Lewis County by 10 p.m. today. The road has been closed due to a landslide since Jan. 8. Yesterday, WSDOT geotechnical engineers determined the highway may be repaired and reopened to local traffic only.

In early January, heavy runoff from rain and snowmelt damaged the road surface of SR 508 between Studhalter Road and Pleasant View Drive (mileposts 20 to 32). The Bear Canyon area received the worst of the damage. Water infiltrated the soil supporting that section of highway, causing the entire roadway to break free and slide down a steep southern slope. WSDOT crews were able to redirect water away from the highway, but enough damage had been sustained to render it unsafe for travel.

After WSDOT geotechnical engineers assessed the stability of the slope and roadway, crews were able to complete temporary repairs and reopen the highway. However, this section of SR 508 will only open to local traffic at this time. The roadway is still damaged and narrow in some places, which restricts travel to single lane traffic in alternating directions.

A permanent solution for landslide issues on SR 508 in the Bear Canyon area is being developed. In the interim, SR 508 may have to be closed again if the area experiences more severe weather.

For weekly updates on this and other construction-related traffic impacts in the region, please visit the WSDOT Southwest Region Weekly Travel Advisory Web page: www.wsdot.wa.gov/Regions/SouthWest/Construction/default.htm. Drivers may also dial 5-1-1 to receive real-time traffic, incident and closure information. TTY users can call 1-800-833-6388. 

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WSDOT keeps people, businesses and the economy moving by operating and improving the state's transportation systems. To learn more about what we're doing, go to www.wsdot.wa.gov/news for pictures, videos, news and blogs. Real time traffic information is available at www.wsdot.wa.gov/traffic or by dialing 5-1-1.

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