Lewis River Highway near Cougar reopened in both directions at 9 a.m. this morning after being closed due to a landslide in the week’s heavy rain, according to the Washington State Department of Transportation. The rural highway in Cowlitz County remains closed to freight traffic.
At Milepost 37.5, WSDOT has one lane open on state Highway 503 and flaggers are letting traffic through in each direction. The road was closed Tuesday evening when a landslide tore away a chunk of pavement and carved a hollow space under the road.
“Freight truck access is prohibited for the foreseeable future to prevent further damage to the highway. Single lane access will remain in place until further notice and is dependent on water levels and soil saturation in the area,” WSDOT said in a statement.
More closures could occur in the area, so drivers should plan for extra time and check the WSDOT mobile app for specifics.
