BOISE, Idaho — Crews with the Idaho Transportation Department (ITD) will begin rock scaling the top of White Bird Grade on Sept. 20 in an effort the stabilize the slope above U.S. Highway 95.
White Bird is located between Grangeville and Riggins, about 180 miles north of Boise.
According to ITD, the work is expected to last over the next several weeks and will intermittently be affecting portions of the highway. Through traffic should use extra caution while traveling through this area.
Rock scaling is intended to reduce the risk of an uncontrolled rockslide. The process involves knocking down the loose debris from the hillside down to the road. After the loose debris is knocked free, specialized equipment further excavates the rock on top, flattening the slope.
“At least for the first day, we’ll have flaggers there to stop all traffic for 20 minutes at a time while workers are scaling,” Operations Engineer Jared Hopkins said. “As work continues, we may allow traffic to flow without being stopped during work if it is safe to do so.”
Crews will work Monday through Saturday, with construction operations beginning at daybreak each day.
The metal containers that have been in place since the rockslide in May will be moved back onto the highway. Passing lanes will also be closing in order to force drivers to merge sooner.
When crews are not working at the site, traffic will be able to flow over the hill with one lane for each direction. For more information on road closures and conditions, visit ITD's website.
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