Landslide on SR 18 in Auburn closes westbound lanes, causing traffic backups, delays
A landslide on state Route 18 in Auburn on Tuesday night caused traffic delays Wednesday morning for drivers headed west. The incident closed all westbound lanes and affected several off-ramps.
State Route 18 was closed at about 11:30 p.m. at Peasley Canyon Road South, according to the Washington State Department of Transportation. State Route 18 west was closed from state Route 167 to Weyerhaeuser Way.
The off-ramps from northbound and southbound state Route 167 were closed, and the off-ramp from West Valley Highway to westbound state Route 18 was closed.
WSDOT began reopening some lanes and ramps by early afternoon Wednesday.
Rain seen across Western Washington on Monday and Tuesday saturated the ground and increased the threat of landslides, the National Weather Service said. In a tweet, the NWS office in Seattle said it would take a while for soils to stabilize, and that the threat of landslides continues for much of the area.
Landslides in Pierce County also led to road closures Wednesday. Graham Fire & Rescue reported multiple landslides causing road closures in Kapowsin. Orville Road East was closed to all traffic at 312th Street East, south of Kapowsin. Orville Road was also closed at state Route 161 in Eatonville.
Another landslide brought trees and power poles onto 25000 block of Orville Road East, making the road impassable. Road closures were set up at 264th Street East and Orville Road as well as Brooks Road and Orville Road.
This story was originally published March 2, 2022 at 7:39 AM.
