Rock slide prompts emergency declaration in Shoshone County

WALLACE –– A state of emergency has been declared in Shoshone County following last week’s rock slide that blocked the road headed over Moon Pass. 

Dave Dose, chairman of the Shoshone Board of County Commissioners, made the declaration Monday due to the heavy expense that is expected for the county to clear and stabilize the road.

Shoshone County Emergency Manager Dan Martinsen and Public Works Director Jessica Stutzke requested that the board make the declaration, which allows them to access emergency aid and assistance, including funding, to complete the project in-house or utilize an available contractor without having to put the job up for bid. 

Preliminary estimates for the project have already topped $200,000, the amount originally anticipated by the county.

Stutzke has also reached out to the Local Highway Technical Assistance Council for $100,000 in emergency funds.

According to reports from Public Works, more than 8,000 cubic yards of rock, dirt and debris will have to be removed before the road can be stabilized and reopened. The remote location of the slide makes the task even more difficult, which will require more time and planning from Stutzke’s department. 

“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," Stutzke said previously. 

Currently, the emergency declaration only covers a period of seven days, but the board will be signing a longer declaration this week, which will cover the entire length of the project.  

“We’ve cut off access from the northern part of our county to the southern portion,” Dose said. “We need to get that opened back up as quickly as possible.” 

The road over Moon Pass provides access to the communities of Avery, Calder and Herrick, as well as the St. Joe River without having to take Highway 3 through St. Maries.