WSDOT Foresees Permanent Fix for Falling Rocks in 2028

Photos and posts warning Chelan County travelers of falling rocks have been shared frequently on social media. The rock slide on Monday near Knapps Hill Tunnel, Milepost 224.7, is an indicator rock slide season is underway. Washington State Department of Transportation has their hands tied to fix the issue in 2020 due to lack of funds.

"Right now for 2020, we're trying to get some funds," said Bob Romine, project development and materials engineer. "For this type of work, statewide, there's not much funds available and they're already programmed out, so we're trying to go for additional funds."

According to Romine, $8 million is allocated for statewide slopes with 3,400 sites competing for that money. So securing those funds can be a difficult feat, however there is plans established to alleviate the rock slides temporarily.

"We have our risk reduction program, which is basically when we go out and scale these slopes. Scaling is where you go out and remove all the loose rocks you can get," said Romine.

The three slopes worked on in 2020:

SR 97/A

• Milepost 217.2 to 217.8
• Milepost 219.8 to 219.9
• Milepost 224.09 to 224.13

However there is light at the end of the tunnel with a permanent fix set for the year 2028. Headquarters circled back to the slopes, re-evaluated the site and made a new conceptual design to fix the slope long term.