Mudslide blocks highway along Hood Canal. State warns people to avoid area
UPDATE: The northbound lane of U.S. Route 101 is open according to Washington State Department of Transportation. Traffic is alternating use of the open lane as crews clean up 80 cubic yards of debris. A semi was caught in the slide but there were no injuries.
ORIGINAL STORY: A mudslide closed U.S. Route 101 north of Hoodsport on Saturday morning, according to the Washington State Department of Transportation.
The agency tweeted shortly before 5 a.m. that the road was blocked between Hoodsport and Lilliwaup along Hood Canal. “No detours available; avoid the area,” the agency tweeted.
Maintenance crews are on their way.
The highway in the popular area for recreation “could be closed for some time,” the agency said.
Mudslide has closed US 101 north of Hoodsport in Mason County. No detours available; avoid area. Maintenance crews en route to clear, but road could be closed for some time. pic.twitter.com/hWcBHtL9Ts
— WSDOT Tacoma Traffic (@wsdot_tacoma) January 27, 2018
Shortly before 7 a.m., WSDOT tweeted that state Route 109 near Mile Post 23, north of Ocean Shores, was also blocked in both in directions because of downed trees.
This story will be updated as more information becomes available.
Craig Hill: 253-597-8497, @AdventureGuys
This story was originally published January 27, 2018 at 5:43 AM with the headline "Mudslide blocks highway along Hood Canal. State warns people to avoid area."