Landslide Forces Closure of 264 Street E Near Puyallup River

GRAHAM, WA — A landslide just outside of Graham has closed a stretch of road, and will force some drivers to take a substantially longer detour.

According to the county, crews had been working to install retaining walls to the outside edge of 264th Street East, between Orting Kapowsin Highway East and Orville Road East — around where 264th Street East crosses over the Kapowsin Creek.

Unfortunately, the construction, intended to stabilize the land, instead caused the shoulder of the eastbound lanes to slide, forcing the county to fully block a 250-foot stretch of road for the foreseeable future. Though the closure itself isn't that long, the detour is, stretching all the way down to Lake Kapowsin and back up Orville Road E.

The county says they're not sure how long the closure will last, but hope to find out when the road may reopen soon. In the meantime, they have set up signage guiding drivers through the detour.

Alongside the retaining walls, the construction project is also adding 600 feet of protective guardrail to the roadway. Before the slide, the county had intended for the project to be completed later this month.