LEWISTON, Idaho (AP) -- Crews Tuesday continued trying to stabilize the land under a major street closed by a mudslide that threatens to dump dirt, rock and other debris into the Snake River.
Officials said the slide, which has plagued Snake River Avenue just below the Lewiston Elks Club since last May, has been moving toward the river at the rate of a foot an hour since Sunday night.Emergency repairs were made late Sunday only to be overtaken by the slide, forcing crews to return to work. A 120-foot section of the road has slipped up to 3 feet below the normal street grade.
Crucial to Nez Perce County in pursuing the multimillion-dollar repair plan is keeping debris out of the river. If that cannot be accomplished, officials could find themselves in violation of the federal Clean Water Act and required to conduct an extensive environmental analysis before undertaking repairs. The process could close the street into late 2000.
Typically, 130 trucks and 750 cars a day travel the road, which leads to nearby Hells Gate State Park. Businesses on the south side of the slide area are already feeling the impact of reduced activity.
If the county can finalize bids on the repair project by May 1, the Federal Highway Administration could pay as much as 100 percent of the estimated $4.8 million price tag.
Meeting that deadline appears difficult. But Nez Perce County Commission Chairman James Soyk said the county still is following state and federal guidelines to avoid jeopardizing reimbursement.