NEAH BAY — One lane of traffic remained open on state Highway 112 near Neah Bay on Wednesday where a landslide blocked the road Monday night.
The state Department of Transportation opened an alternating lane at 4:23 p.m. on Tuesday and hopes to have both lanes opened by Monday.
The slide occurred at about 8:50 p.m. on Monday near Wilson Road at milepost 5, temporarily cutting off the only paved access to the Makah reservation at Cape Flattery.
The DOT planned to continue moving debris on Wednesday, but heavy snowfall in the region diverted crews to other parts of the county, DOT spokeswoman Karri Workman said.
“Crews are spread thin,” Workman said. “They will focus their effort in areas with higher traffic volumes.”
Meanwhile, flashing lights, orange barricades and stop signs will alert motorists to the lane closure. One lane will remain open to traffic at all times.
“The closure is short enough that one driver can see the other,” Workman said.
“Whoever gets there first, goes first.”
Workman said that road closures happen near Neah Bay a few times a year, and drivers there are accustomed to the procedure.
Crews will periodically check the safety signals at the slide area in the coming days, Workman said.
DOT crews and a contractor will return on Monday morning to try to clear the rest of the debris.
Meri Parker, a Neah Bay community leader and owner of Ozett Associates LLC, drove past the slide on her way to Port Angeles on Wednesday.
Parker said she wasn’t concerned by the news that one lane will remain closed until next week.
“I don’t think that’s going to have any effect on getting in and out,” Parker said.
“We can manage with one lane open.”
Parker reported no problems getting around.
“It was fine,” she said.
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Reporter Rob Ollikainen can be reached at 360-417-3537 or at rob.ollikainen@peninsuladailynews.com.
