There is good news for travelers who use State Route 7 north of Alder. At 10 a.m., Tuesday, Jan. 7, Washington state Department of Transportation maintenance crews re-opened the highway more than two weeks after nearby hillsides slid following torrential rains.
The speed limit is reduced from 45 mph to 25 mph between mileposts 23.69 and 24.84, leading up to a nearly 600-foot long section that is open to one-way, alternating traffic. Both the speed limit and lane reductions will remain in place until further notice.
WSDOT closed 6 miles of SR 7 on Friday, Dec. 20 after debris broke loose from rain-saturated hillsides. After geotechnical engineers determined areas remained active, crews placed roadway barriers in several locations. The barrier is intended to help prevent additional debris from entering the roadway.
WSDOT will create a plan for permanent repairs while monitoring the hillsides for additional slide activity.
Visit the Pierce County construction web page for updated maintenance and construction information. Real-time traveler information is available from the WSDOT app and by following the WSDOT regional Twitter feed.