UPDATE: The cleanup phase on U.S. Highway 12 near Arrow, Idaho is now underway after crews successfully completed critical rock scaling and excavation work. As of 4 p.m. today, the highway has reopened to one lane, but motorists should brace for delays of up to 20 minutes due to ongoing debris removal.
Idaho Transportation Department spokesperson Mark Pfeifer confirmed that the day’s work concluded approximately two hours ahead of schedule, allowing traffic to flow again, albeit with restrictions. “The material was pretty crumbly, so they were able to get a bunch of it down,” Pfeifer stated.
Motorists traveling through this area will encounter flaggers managing traffic flow as cleanup efforts continue. The highway will remain restricted to one lane this morning, and officials advise all drivers to plan for significant delays.
The emergency rock scaling operation, which commenced last week, was initiated to safeguard both the highway and motorists from potential rock slides. Workers utilized climbing gear and inflatable airbags to dislodge unstable rocks, followed by an excavator working on the nearly vertical slope to further clear the area.
Officials have indicated that a return to two-lane traffic flow could be possible in the near future, contingent on the progress of cleanup activities. Updates on road conditions and traffic management are continuously being posted on the agency’s travel website at 511.idaho.gov and their main website at bit.ly/3XgQNGM. Additionally, updates can be found on their Facebook page.
Stay tuned for more updates as this developing situation unfolds, and drive safely!
