Idaho Highway 55 is open as of 9pm Monday, after a rockslide overnight Saturday in the canyon between Smiths Ferry and Round Valley.
The road has been plagued by challenges. This is the third rockslide to cause the road to close since a multi-million dollar project to widen the roadbed in the winding section of the canyon along the Payette River started in 2020.
“Construction crews worked all day Monday to stabilize the hillside,” ITD said in a news release. “A team of geotechnical experts inspected the work and confirm it is safe to reopen the highway to the traveling public. The Idaho Transportation Department is aware of the risks in this slope. A safety catchment area was built under this slope and kept most of the rock and debris from hitting the road.”
ITD did not say how big the slide was – but did note that it was in a different area from the last slide which occurred in November.
[‘Everybody’s suffering:’ Some Valley Co. residents upset with Idaho 55 Smiths Ferry closure]
Horrocks Engineering suspended all construction activity on the project for the winter last month, according to a news release at the time.
Idaho 55 is the primary link between the Boise valley and greater McCall area. The annual McCall Winter Carnival is slated to start Friday, which brings thousands of tourists to the mountain community.
