Beef Bend Road emergency repairs underway

For Immediate Release: Wednesday, December 23, 2015

The large sinkhole on Beef Bend Road at 146th Avenue has resulted in significant road repairs that will keep a portion of the road closed for at least a week.

Beef Bend Road is closed from 150th Avenue east to SW Westminster Drive, about 2 miles west of Highway 99W. The sinkhole, which extends under traffic lanes and is estimated to be 20 feet deep, was reported Tuesday [Dec.22]. Washington County Department of Land Use & Transportation (LUT) engineers believe the sinkhole resulted from a damaged drainage culvert. Once the culvert has been excavated, engineers will be able to determine if it can be repaired or if replacement is required.

"We are treating this as an emergency and are doing everything we can to expedite the repairs," said Dave Schamp, LUT Operations and Maintenance manager. "We've hired Kerr Contractors to do the excavation work, which they hope to begin on Thursday [Dec. 24], if all goes as planned."

A gas line and a water main need to be stabilized before excavation can begin. Utility crews were onsite today [Wednesday, Dec. 23] taking precautionary measures.

Travelers must use an alternate route. The preferred route is Roy Rogers Road to Bull Mountain Road to Highway 99W on the north side of the closure and Highway 99W to Roy Rogers Road on the south side of the closure.

For the latest road condition updates, visit wc-roads.com.

Washington County is committed to planning, building and maintaining a great transportation system, ensuring the safety of all roadway users, and operating the County roadway system in a cost-effective and environmentally responsible manner.

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