Use caution when driving in the wet woods |
| June 7, 2011 |
|
Across the forests in north Idaho, the Idaho
Panhandle National Forests and our county
partners are discovering more and more roads
with damage due to the significant amount of
snowpack and runoff. Currently there are many
roads with temporary closures in place due to
road washouts or other unsafe conditions. According to acting Idaho Panhandle National Forests Supervisor Maggie Pittman, “The wet and muddy condition of our forest roads means forest visitors need to be especially cautious when driving in the woods, and should obey the warning signs and closures that have been put in place for their safety.” Many of the access roads to the national forests have had slides and slumps, and although those roads have some temporary fixes, conditions can change quickly with one warm day of snow melt or a rainstorm. Motorists should be aware that shoulders are still very unstable and the potential exists for slides and rock-falls on forest roads. Extreme caution is advised for all forest visitors, and motorists are encouraged to slow down when encountering warning signs and should comply with road closures. “We expect to find damaged roads throughout the summer season as the snow recedes and run-off increases,” Idaho Panhandle National Forests Engineer Jim Gebhardt added. “We intend to make repairs and reopen roads as soon as possible, but we need to ask for the public’s patience as we are unlikely to be able to address every road issue as soon as it is discovered. In extreme cases there are some road segments that we may not be able to repair this year.” A list of current road conditions, restrictions, and closures is available on the Idaho Panhandle National Forests website. The list is updated weekly with the most current known information. Members of the public may also contact their local Forest Service offices for more information. |