Massive slide shuts down U.S. 2 east of Wenatchee State estimates 9-mile closure will last at least several days

The slide that has U.S. Highway 2 closed for at least a few days is roughly 7,000 cubic yards in volume -- that's about 700 dump truck loads of material. The slide that has U.S. Highway 2 closed for at least a few days is roughly 7,000 cubic yards in volume -- that's about 700 dump truck loads of material. Image 1 of / 3 Caption Close Massive slide shuts down U.S. 2 east of Wenatchee 1 / 3 Back to Gallery

A massive rock and mud slide that began Sunday afternoon has triggered the closure of a 9-mile stretch of U.S. Highway 2 near Waterville, about 18 miles east of Wenatchee.

The closure is likely to last at least a few days, challenging drivers in an area with few easy options for detours, said Jeff Adamson, spokesman for the Washington State Department of Transportation.

Crews from WSDOT spent most of Monday assessing the slide and making sure no vehicles or people were trapped under the massive pile of rock that covered the highway just east of the interchange with U.S. Highway 97. They found nothing in the pile but rock and mud, Adamson said.

The size of the slide -- roughly 7,000 cubic yards or the equivalent of about 700 dump truck loads of material -- makes it a challenge for WSDOT crews that are already needed for avalanche and slide work elsewhere this time of year, so the department will likely hire an outside contractor to help clear the road, Adamson said.

"We pretty well need help if we're going to get this thing open pretty soon," he said.

A recent deluge of wet weather likely caused the slide, and a team from WSDOT's Olympia office will make sure the hillside is stable before any workers or equipment are put in the slide zone, he added.

Detours for drivers are not easy, with the best options to either head north to Brewster (about an hour drive) to pick up state Route 17 and work their way back to Waterville, or a similarly long detour south to Quincy and then state Route 28, Adamson said.

WSDOT will issue an update Tuesday morning, with the hope of getting the slide cleared in two or three days.

Daniel DeMay covers Seattle culture, business and transportation for seattlepi.com. He can be reached at 206-448-8362 or danieldemay@seattlepi.com. Follow him on Twitter: @Daniel_DeMay.