Highway 97 slide: 1 lane now open

One lane of Idaho state Highway 97 has been cleared of debris following a rock and mudslide this morning near Beauty Bay on Lake Coeur d’Alene. Traffic is taking turns past the slide. The Idaho Department of Transportation estimates the other lane will be cleared by about 5 p.m. today. The slide dumped an estimated 250 to 300 cubic yards, or nearly 450 tons, of debris on the highway, blocking both lanes of traffic. No vehicles were struck and no injuries reported in the slide, which happened about 9:47 a.m. southwest of the Wolf Lodge area and south of the Mineral Ridge boat launch. Crews are removing debris using loaders, backhoes and a dump truck. The material is being taken to ITD’s Wolf Lodge stockpile site. ITD will assess damage to the roadway and schedule appropriate repairs.