Saturday, December 12, 2015

Highway connecting Oregon, Washington collapses after torrential rains

A rain-soaked hillside collapsed on the main highway connecting Washington and Oregon, stranding thousands of motorists for hours Thursday while rain continued to fall throughout the region.
The storms that have been sending rivers out of their banks, closing roads and killing at least two people in the Pacific Northwest this week were easing a bit, but forecasters said mudslide danger on the saturated hills would remain high through the weekend.
"It was crazy and I was scared," said Diane Smith of Lacey, Washington, who was stuck for three hours behind the landslide on Interstate 5 about 26 miles north of Portland, Oregon, and then drove a steep, windy mountain road to get around the slide.
The massive landslide blocked the lanes Wednesday afternoon after a hillside of rocks and dirt collapsed on the roadway after days of pounding rain. Crews were able to reopen one lane Thursday evening and transportation officials estimate all lanes will be reopened by Sunday evening.
More rain is on the way through the weekend.
http://www.foxnews.com/weather/2015/12/11/highway-connecting-oregon-washington-collapses-after-torrential-rains/?intcmp=ob_article_sidebar_video&intcmp=obinsite
1211 northwest storms.jpg

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