The U.S. Department of Transportation’s Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) has announced the immediate availability of $6 million in “quick release” Emergency Relief (ER) funds to the Wyoming Department of Transportation. These funds are intended to offset the costs of repairs in the Teton Range caused by a landslide earlier this month and to construct a safe, temporary detour near the Wyoming-Idaho border. This detour is crucial for restoring access to popular tourist destinations such as Jackson Hole, Yellowstone National Park, and Grand Teton National Park.
U.S. Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg emphasized the importance of reopening Teton Pass, a key route for workers and visitors traveling between Idaho and Wyoming. The emergency funding will support efforts to restore access to this important roadway quickly and enhance infrastructure resilience against future weather events.
Federal Highway Administrator Shailen Bhatt stated that the FHWA is working closely with the Wyoming Department of Transportation to repair the landslide damage at Teton Pass. The Emergency Relief funding will expedite repairs and restore temporary access during the busy summer tourist season.
On June 8, 2024, Wyoming State Highway 22 (Teton Pass) experienced a catastrophic landslide at Mile Post 12.8, resulting in a complete loss of the roadway. Another landslide occurred a day earlier at Mile Post 15, covering the highway in mud and debris. Fortunately, no vehicles were on the highway during these incidents, and no injuries were reported.
Wyoming DOT crews have been working continuously to clean up the debris and build a detour around the highway failure. Governor Mark Gordon issued an executive order declaring an emergency in response to both landslides. State geologists and engineers are confident they can construct a safe, temporary two-lane detour with likely weight and width restrictions.
Planned improvements include drainage enhancements and a box culvert at the mudslide site. The goal is to restore essential traffic flow between Wyoming and Idaho, reducing a normally 30-minute commute that can otherwise take up to an hour and a half.
During his visit to Cheyenne on June 17, Secretary Pete Buttigieg received operational updates on the emergency response from Governor Mark Gordon and WYDOT officials. State and federal agencies are working to provide access to unaffected recreation areas and trails.
The FHWA Emergency Relief program provides funding for highways and bridges damaged by natural disasters or catastrophic events. These “quick release” funds are an initial installment toward restoring this essential transportation link, with additional support anticipated through nationwide funding allocations.
For more information about FHWA’s Emergency Relief program, visit FHWA Emergency Relief Program.
