Rock slide delays Moon Pass opening

WALLACE –– A significant rock slide has delayed the seasonal opening of Moon Pass for the foreseeable future. 

According to Shoshone County Public Works Director Jessica Stutzke, the rockslide has completely blocked a portion of the road between Champion and Bullion Creeks on the southern side of the pass. 

County work crews had already been making progress on their seasonal grading of the road over the pass before the discovery of the rock slide, now the crews will need more than just a grader to clear the road. 

“Crews will be actively working to clear the blockage,” Stutzke said in a press release. “Heavy equipment will be moving in and out of the site and crews will need room to work safely. Please obey the road closure signs at Wallace and Avery.” 

Stutzke believes the slide was likely caused by the uniquely inconsistent winter season with deep freezes, an early thaw, and plenty of rain this spring.

The task of removing the debris will be a big ask for the work crews due to the remote area and narrow road, but they will also have to make sure that the structural stability of both the road and surrounding hillsides are intact and up to code

“We are evaluating the situation right now to determine what kind of timeframe we are looking at,” Stutzke said. “There are a lot of variables that will factor into the cleanup. Our goal is to clear the slide, but we need to be able to do it safely. So rather than just rush into this hastily, we are taking this week for evaluation and planning so we can open the road as safely and efficiently as possible.”

The county is anticipating the project to cost up to $200,000 – a scary concept for a community facing budget issues. Public Works has reached out to the Local Highway Technical Assistance Council (LHTAC) to secure emergency funds. 

“We will try to keep the costs lower by using our labor force and equipment, but some of this will need to be contracted out,” Stutzke said. “The biggest factor affecting the budget and timeline will be how much of the slope is still unstable and how much more rock will come down. As of now, we estimate that we have approximately 8,000 cubic yards of rock that has come down already that will need to be cleared.” 

Each year, locals look forward to the opening of the mountain pass to access the southern region of Shoshone County without having to traverse Highway 3 through St. Maries. 

Along with Avery, the communities of Calder and Herrick are accessible via Moon Pass. 

Stutzke stated that her office will notify the public when the pass is open for the season.

For more information, contact Shoshone County Public Works at (208) 753-5475.