The Wahkiakum County Eagle - Established as The Skamokawa Eagle in 1891

State Route 4 will remain closed just west of Stella until early next week while crews stabilize a slope threatening to slide onto the highway.

The Washington State Department of Transportation (WSDOT) closed the highway Tuesday morning after 200 cubic yards of mud and debris flowed onto the roadway and blocked both lanes of traffic.

The slide occurred at the end of an open bluff section and took out a 25-foot wide section of chain link netting WSDOT had placed along the bluff to control rockfalls. In another section, a stump is hung up in the netting above the highway.

Debris continued to fall onto the roadway throughout the day, and a geotechnical assessment determined that a portion of the hillside 100 feet above the highway is unstable. The soil is saturated from recent heavy rains, and the unstable mass could shift and bring debris onto SR 4 with little warning.

Drivers should continue to use US 30 in Oregon as a detour.

While the highway is closed, WSDOT is covering fees for drivers to use the Puget Island Ferry between Puget Island and Westport, Ore, and the boat will operate around the clock to help drivers reach their destinations. During the day, however, the wait in line for the ferry can be as long as it takes to drive from Cathlamet to Astoria and then back to Westport.

WSDOT will hire an emergency contractor to excavate the unstable slope and remove dangerous trees. Crews will work seven days a week to stabilize the slope and reopen the road to drivers.

Emergency vehicles will be escorted through the closure area by WSDOT and Washington State Patrol.