Drivers who use State Route 503 near Speelyai Bay Road should plan for an extended closure.
On Monday, March 13, a portion of an adjacent hillside slid carrying rocks, mud and trees onto the roadway. Washington State Department of Transportation engineers need to examine the hillside above the highway to determine the potential for additional slides and if a slope repair is necessary before the highway can reopen to traffic.
Currently, the hillside is unstable extremely saturated from heavy rainfall. Crews must wait for a stretch of dry weather, and the hillside to stop moving, before they can safely make an assessment and develop next steps.
There is no estimated time for reopening the highway. Drivers should continue to avoid this area and use alternate routes.