Little Cottonwood Canyon, Alta, Snowbird Closed During Avalanche Mitigation
Feb 7, 2020, 7:07 AM | Updated: 4:21 pm
UDOT workers clear snow after an avalanche on SR 210 in Little Cottonwood Canyon on Feb. 7, 2020
COTTONWOOD HEIGHTS, Utah – The Utah Department of Transportation responded to multiple avalanches Friday morning after a layer of heavy, wet snow fell upon several days’ worth of powder.
Officials closed state Route 210 in Little Cottonwood Canyon after the avalanche activity kicked off with a slide near the entrance of Snowbird, which UDOT spokesman John Gleason said was eight to nine feet deep.
The canyon will remain closed through Friday while crews work to clear debris from multiple slides.
🚧 #RoadClosureUpdate: Due to significant amounts of avalanche debris and continued @UDOTavy control work, #LCCroad #SR210 will not be opening today. Est. opening time unknown. This clean up vid is from the Willows slide area.🚧 @CanyonAlerts @UDOTTRAFFIC pic.twitter.com/CAKoCzHQuL
— UDOT Cottonwood Canyons (@UDOTcottonwoods) February 7, 2020
Both Alta and Snowbird ski resorts are closed as well and the town of Alta is interlodged until further notice.
SR-210 Closed through night. Town of Alta Interlodged. No estimated opening time. Stay indoors.
— Alta Central (@AltaCentral) February 7, 2020
WOW! Check out this avalanche video at Alta courtesy of Mac Charvala.Little Cottonwood Canyon will remain CLOSED Friday and officials with UDOT did not give an estimated opening time.(Video: Mac Charvala)
Posted by KSL 5 TV on Friday, February 7, 2020
"The most extreme avalanche conditions that you can imagine," – UDOT crews are working to clear avalanches that have covered parts of Little Cottonwood Canyon Road with as much as 15 feet of snow. Working on this story with @laddegan for @KSL5TV at 12. pic.twitter.com/8uYqUGrdRi
— Sean Moody (@SeanMoodyKSL) February 7, 2020
Authorities could not specify when the road would reopen.
On S.R. 190 through Big Cottonwood Canyon, plows worked through the morning to remove snow from the road. UDOT reported that drivers should expect congestion and weather-related delays.
Roadside parking in Big Cottonwood Canyon is prohibited today, according to a UDOT tweet.
“#TravelWise and take the #RideUTA ski bus if you can,” UDOT wrote.
#RoadUpdate: 👋 Mornin’ #BCCroad #SR190 travelers! Plows are out with ❄️❄️ road conditions up high. Be prepared for possible congestion/weather related delays. @UPDSL will not be allowing roadside parking today due to snow. #TravelWise and take the @RideUTA ski bus if you can. pic.twitter.com/l3NtpFpVOt
— UDOT Cottonwood Canyons (@UDOTcottonwoods) February 7, 2020
