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Committee questions agencies after landslide collapses segment of Teton Pass, cutting route to Jackson Hole
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Summary
A landslide collapsed part of Teton Pass, cutting the daily commute between Jackson Hole, Wyo., and nearby Idaho communities. Senators pressed federal witnesses about coordination with Wyoming DOT, the U.S. Forest Service and FHWA and efforts to reopen the road safely and swiftly.
A committee member told the Senate Committee on Energy and Natural Resources that a segment of Teton Pass in western Wyoming collapsed in a landslide, cutting the transit route used daily by workers commuting between Jackson Hole, Wyo., and nearby Idaho communities such as Victor, and asked federal agencies for an update on reopening the road.
The committee member, identified only as an unnamed committee member in the transcript, said a Wall Street Journal edition featured a photo of the slide and that the Wyoming Highway Patrol provided the original image. "We need the road to be safe, and made it open again as quickly as possible," the committee member said, noting the closure comes as the summer tourism season is already underway and affects hospital staff, teachers, firefighters, emergency responders and hospitality workers.
An unidentified federal respondent told the committee that agencies have been engaged with the Wyoming Department of Transportation (WYDOT) from the outset and that the U.S. Forest Service and the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) are working with state and local partners on assessments and recovery planning. The respondent said, "Fortunately, no one was hurt," and described support including strategic planning, capacity efforts, damage assessments and cooperation across both the Caribou-Targhee side near Victor and the Bridger-Teton/Jackson side.
The respondent said agencies are coordinating to expedite recovery work and to explore bypass options where feasible but did not provide a firm timeline for reopening. There was no formal vote or directive recorded; the exchange was a request for an operational update and a description of interagency work underway.
Background: Teton Pass is an arterial route used by commuters and seasonal workers traveling between Jackson Hole and communities in neighboring Idaho. Committee remarks emphasized the economic and public-safety importance of restoring safe passage ahead of peak summer travel. The hearing did not include detailed cost estimates, contractor names, or a specific reopening date; those details were described as part of ongoing damage assessments and coordination with WYDOT and federal partners.
