More work needed at Moon Pass rockslide site
The hillside near the road where a rockslide wiped out the road over Moon Pass. Additional work to stabilize the slope will begin next month.
Courtesy photo
WALLACE –– Additional work is needed to stabilize a section of Moon Pass that was buried beneath a rockslide over a year ago.
According to Shoshone County Public Works Director Jessica Stutzke, the project has reached its construction, engineering, inspection, and sampling phase (CEI&S), and engineering firms GeoEnigineers and HMH Engineering will be working together to as the project moves into the construction phase.
“CEI&S refers to the services provided by consultants who oversee the construction process on behalf of the project owner, ensuring that the project is built according to specifications and quality standards,” Stutzke explained. “CEI&S will include contract administration, daily on-site inspection, materials sampling and testing, and project administration documentation required for the emergency funding provided by Federal Highway Administration.”
The project has been 100% funded through emergency dollars with no cost falling on Shoshone County, these funds were secured through state and federal agencies including the Local Highway Technical Assistance Council (LHTAC), FHWA, and FEMA.
The two engineering firms will effectively tag-team the project, which is expected to begin in May and, according to Stutzke, should be completed in roughly two months. This cooperative effort will satisfy the federal reporting requirements that came with the emergency funding.
“GeoEngineers was the contracted engineering firm for the initial site safety when our crews were clearing the roadway when the slide first occurred last year,” she said. “They were also the firm contracted for the design portion of the project. We are now moving into the construction phase, which requires CEI&S. We selected HMH Engineering from our county general engineering roster as the consultant, and they will be utilizing Geoengineers as their sub-consultant.”
In June 2024, two months after the slide, Idaho Gov. Brad Little declared the slide a state emergency in an effort to secure funding. Former President Joe Biden signed off on the major disaster declaration, which allowed the county to secure federal emergency funds.
Later that month, St. Maries-based contractor Danielson Logging and Rock cleared the 10,000 cubic yards of debris from the slide, and the road was opened for the season on June 27.
Moon Pass, which connects Wallace to the southern region of Shoshone County, including areas like Avery, Calder, and Clarkia, is usually open for travelers in late May/early June. However, that may be slightly delayed as the work is completed.