New road problems reported in Ferry, Pend Oreille counties

Wet weather and high water have created new road closures in Ferry and Pend Oreille counties.

Flowery Trail Road has been closed between Westside Calispel Road and Danforth Road due to landslide concerns, according to the Pend Oreille County Sheriff’s Office. About 300 yards of hillside appears to be unstable, with trees leaning near the road and bulging pavement.

Flowery Trail Road connects Pend Oreille and Stevens counties. A detour is available via Cusick Meadow Road, Westside Calispel Road and Danforth Road.

The Washington state Department of Transportation has closed U.S. Highway 395 at Mattson Creek in Ferry County, which is about 20 miles south of the Canadian border. Mattson Creek is flooding across the highway. No detour is available.

This week the DOT will start building a temporary bridge on state Route 21 about 15 miles south of Republic. The road has completely washed out. The bridge will be about 100 feet long and will only be wide enough to handle one lane of traffic. Signs will be posted to give drivers directions on how to cross safely without encountering oncoming traffic.

The temporary steel bridge is called a Bailey bridge and is designed to be constructed without heavy equipment. Construction is expected to take approximately 10 days.