A two-and-a-half-mile stretch of South Lakeshore Road in Chelan is closed to traffic due to a rockslide that occurred March 3. A large section of o roadside hill came crumbling down onto the road, filling a catch basin and exposing a large boulder which hangs 50-60 feet above the road.
"Larger rocks are exposed above the road, kind of a precarious location,"
said Washington State Department of Transportation (WSDOT) spokesman Sebastian Moraga. "We got very lucky that this happened at 3 a.m. instead of 3 p.m. because the traffic scene would have been much different."
"If we just clean the road and leaves those big rocks exposed, it's a major, major hazard," Moraga added.
The road is closed between Lake Chelan State Park (milepost 9.1), and the intersection of Scenic Ranch Lane (milepost 11.5), west of the junction of US 97-A. WSDOT road crews are studying how best to remove large rocks and stabilize the hillside.
"A geotechnical team did an onsite review today bit there is not yet a plan or schedule for reopening," said Lauren Loebsack, WSDOT North Central Communications Manager Tuesday afternoon. "It could be an extended closure; we will know more in the next day or two."
"Last night, additional material came down at the same slope." Loebsack said.. "This site remains an active hazard area for rock fall."
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