The Idaho Transportation Department has set up a detour route to get people in and out of Elk City after a landslide closed a section of Highway 14 late last week.
Beginning today, the Idaho County Sheriff's Office will escort drivers through a 20-mile bypass along an old Forest Service road that runs through the Nez Perce-Clearwater National Forest.
The detour route will operate on Tuesday, Wednesday, and Friday this week, with one downriver trip in the morning at 8 a.m. (drivers meet at the Elk City Laundromat), and one upriver trip in the afternoon (location to be determined) at 3 p.m. In the following weeks, the schedule will be Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays.
"The Idaho Transportation Department will be working to reopen Idaho 14 as soon as safely possible,” said ITD Lewiston-area District Engineer Dave Kuisti. “The size of the slide, the large volume of unstable material at the top of the slide, and the size of the slide debris will complicate the removal."
Idaho 14 is the only access into Elk City, Red River, Orogrande, American River and Dixie during the winter months. Right now, the road is closed with no vehicular access possible along the highway.
Idaho County will be working with commercial-service providers to look for ways to provide fuel and other necessities for those in Elk City.
Click here to see maps and updates from ITD.
