Phone Service Restored After Monthlong Outage

Telephone service has been restored for 40 homes on Salmon Beach that were disconnected a month ago in a mudslide.

Ten workers handled the lines and a geotechnical specialist kept an eye on the Point Defiance bluffs as service was reconnected for the waterfront homes on Saturday, said US West spokesman George Chappell.

A mudslide on Dec. 27 in the middle of a series of severe winter storms cut the telephone connection.

It took a month to restore service because US West had bigger areas to reconnect after the storms. Also, the steep hillside behind the homes was unstable, making working conditions unsafe, Chappell said.

After meeting with the residents and talking to local managers and workers, U S West decided to attempt the reconnect on Saturday.

The people on Salmon Beach welcomed telephone workers with hot coffee and cookies, Chappell said.