US-12 reopened Wednesday afternoon following emergency rock removal

MYRTLE - U.S. Highway 12 near Arrow Bridge reopened all lanes of traffic as of 2:30 p.m. Wednesday.

Crews completed rock scaling, excavation and cleanup work on the rocky hillside after a section of the slope shifted, causing loose rocks to create a safety hazard. Traffic may now travel on US-12 near Arrow Bridge without interruption.

As an additional safety measure, a concrete barrier has been placed near the edge of the roadway to protect motorists should any small rocks or debris come loose. Crews worked around the clock and removed an estimated 350 truckloads of debris from the hillside since Friday.

"A big thank you to both our construction partners and maintenance crews for mobilizing and tackling the slope so quickly," Operations and Traffic Engineering Manager Jared Hopkins said. "I would also like to extend ITD's appreciation to other partners including the Idaho State Police, Idaho Fish and Game, Nez Perce County Sheriff, Nez Perce County Road and Bridge, and the City of Lewiston Fire Department for their help orchestrating this multiday, emergency project on US-12."

With holiday travel approaching, drivers are reminded to use Idaho 511 for the most up-to-date traffic and road condition information across the state. Travelers can visit the website at 511.idaho.gov, dial 5-1-1 or download the Idaho 511 app on any smart device.