by Bruce A. Smith

Another press release from the WSDOT reflects the historic levels of rain and mud slides effecting western Washington. Mountain Highway, aka SR 7, has been shut several times in the Nisqually gorge near the Packwood Forest, but now another section of the road has been impacted.

 Here is the public announcement:

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 SR 7 closes following small slide near Ohop Valley Road

 EATONVILLE –  Earlier this evening crews working for the Washington State Department of Transportation closed State Route 7 at milepost 31 west of Eatonville following the discovery that five cubic yards of debris sloughed off the adjacent hillside and into the roadway ditch.   

 The road was also closed for four days in mid-March when approximately 100 cubic yards of debris fell onto the roadway. Since then WSDOT crews have been carefully monitoring the area for any earth movement. 

 To ensure the safety of the traveling public, the decision was made to close the roadway until WSDOT geologists could take a closer look at the area tomorrow.

 Motorists are advised to heed the road closure signs and use an alternate route around the closed section of highway. Previous detours have directed motorists to SR 161 and the Eatonville Cutoff Road.