West Virginia Division of Highways worker Allen Scarboro uses a front end loader to clear a path through a massive rock slide along W.Va. 99 on the Raleigh County side of Bolt Mountain Monday afternoon. The slide, which occurred some time around noon, completely blocked the way to traffic indefinitely while crews assessed the situation
BECKLEY, W.Va. — The West Virginia Department of Transportation (@WVDOT) tweeted around 10 p.m. Monday night that W.Va. 99 had been reopened after a rock slide blocked both lanes. Crews were on site overnight to keep watch on the hillside in case of another slide.
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BECKLEY, W.Va. — A large rock slide completely blocked W.Va. 99 in Raleigh County Monday around noon about 4 to 5 miles from the Wyoming County line. The slide happened on Bolt Mountain, according to 911 dispatchers.
The West Virginia Division of Highways responded and, according to officials, they were working to clear the slide Monday and said they should have the road opened quickly.
West Virginia Department of Transportation spokeswoman Carrie Bly said Monday afternoon that the slide “looked pretty bad, but we already have one lane cleared, so it’ll be opened up (Monday) evening.”
According to Bly, a crew was to remain on site through the night to keep watch on the hillside, in case more debris falls. A crew from the geotechnical division will assess the area today.