Road crews are hoping to have Highway 99 opened in both
directions later this afternoon as they finish paving the asphalt damaged by a
large rock.
A rock the size of a car came tumbling down onto the highway
just south of Shannon Falls at 5 a.m. during rock blasting work for the highway
upgrades.
The road was closed in both directions at the time of the
scheduled blast.
Ministry of Transportation spokesperson Susan Williams said the
rock put a pothole in the highway, forcing crews to repave the road. Traffic
was reduced to single lane alternating vehicles.
Williams said there is no explanation for the accident.
“Basically it’s whatever the conditions are,” she said. “That’s
why they close the road — you don’t know what’s going to happen.”
At 3 p.m. the road was still one lane alternating traffic.
Williams said: “They’re hoping to finish the work later this afternoon.”
