Continuous gravel slides cause temporary work stoppages throughout day

Crews working on the emergency stabilization buttress were pulled off the site temporarily due to continuous gravel slides on the Budge hillside behind Walgreens and directly above the Budge Drive intersection more than once during the day.

Significant movement has occurred on the hillside with increased depth and width to all cracks delineating the slide. The eastern crack moved 3 feet in 24 hours with a fair amount of gravel sliding continuously throughout the past two days.

Additional continuous gravel slides are expected as well as calving of larger chunks in the high risk area. Currently the gravel is being caught by the netting and is slowly beginning to spill over the chain link retaining wall behind Walgreens but not over the railroad tie retaining wall yet.

Water will be shut off on Tuesday, April 22 to all businesses on the north side of West Broadway/Highway 89/Wyo 22 between and including Walgreens employee housing to the east and the Pony Express Motel and all businesses above the Pony Express Motel area to the west. Water will also be shut off on April 22 to Cutty’s, Old West Storage, and a portion of the Teton Gables Motel.

The water shutoff will allow Public Works crews to install valves and hydrants necessary to provide the ability to cap off the Town’s 12 inch water main along the potential slide area to avoid a significant water main break.

The Walgreens commercial facility lost power at approximately 1:00 P.M. today due to the slide. Lower Valley Energy took measures today to better prepare for movement of power poles in the Budge Drive area if it occurs.

Concrete L barriers and fill material was brought in today to continue construction of the emergency stabilization buttress to protect the Town’s infrastructure including Budge Drive and water lines in the area. The north lane of West Broadway/Highway 89 was closed off today during construction of the emergency stabilization buttress.

Additional fencing has been installed in the upper and lower parking lots of Sidewinders to further delineate the hard closure area and also to provide the groundwork should the evacuation order be downgraded to an evacuation advisory for businesses and residents in the Hillside Complex.

Team members will also be installing lighting at the site to allow incident command to track and document any larger slides or damage occurring throughout the night.

Due to the increased slides, Cole Nethercott, Unified Co-Commander cautioned all teams working on site, “To know your escape route at all times should it decide to let go all at once.”

A press conference will be held in the Council Chambers of the Town Hall located at 150 East Pearl Avenue at 10:00 A.M. Friday and will be live streamed to the public from the Town’s website, www.townofjackson.com.

Motorists are asked to focus on driving while in the Budge Drive area and be mindful of those in the crosswalk as many emergency personnel are utilizing the signal light and crosswalk at Budge Drive to access the area.

Residents in the evacuation advisory area are reminded that they enter at their own risk. Evacuees and employees in need of continued services can contact The Community Resource Center at 739-4500.. Anyone in need of immediate mental health services should call the Community Counseling Center at 733-2046.

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