UDOT Crews Continue Avalanche Control In Cottonwood Canyons

SALT LAKE CITY, Utah – The Utah Department of Transportation is closing roads Tuesday as crews work on avalanche mitigation in northern Utah canyons.

This article will continue to be updated as UDOT releases new information. Refresh for the latest news.

5 p.m.

Big Cottonwood Canyon will close at 9 p.m. Tuesday due to avalanche hazards. Salt Lake County officials said the road is estimated to reopen at 4 a.m. Wednesday.

3:22 p.m.

UTA officials said S.R. 190 in Big Cottonwood Canyon has reopened to traffic. Ski bus route 972 has resumed service but officials said to expect delays.

#SkiBus Update 3:22 PM: Avalanche mitigation is complete and Big Cottonwood Canyon has reopened to travel in both directions. #Rt972 may now proceed, but expect delays.

For more information call 801-743-3882, visit https://t.co/kiQHIpIrsC, or track your bus with the Transit app.

— UTA (@RideUTA) February 16, 2021

1:55 p.m.

The National Weather Service is warning that stronger snow showers across the state will last through sunset, which will result in poor visibility.

“One shower will impact portions off I-15 from Farmington to Bountiful” through about 2:30 p.m., according to an NWS tweet.

Daytime heating is helping to fuel stronger snow showers across much of Utah & will last through sunset. These will produce brief heavy snow & poor visibility. One shower will impact portions of I-15 from Farmington to Bountiful over the next 30 min.#utwx pic.twitter.com/7ARIfr69S3

— NWS Salt Lake City (@NWSSaltLakeCity) February 16, 2021

1:30 p.m.

UDOT announced it will shut down uphill traffic on S.R. 190 below the S-Curve at 2:15 p.m. for avalanche control. Downhill traffic will close at Cardiff at 2:30 p.m.

Crews estimate the road will be reopened at approximately 3:30 p.m.

🚧 #RoadClosureAlert 🚧 #SR190 closing for additional @UDOTavy avalanche mitigation. 

Uphill to close below S-Curve @ 2:15pm. Downhill traffic to close at Cardiff (MP 10.5) @ 2:30pm.

Est opening 3:30pm. Stay tuned for updates.@UDOTTRAFFIC @BrightonResort @SolitudeMTN @UPDSL

— UDOT Cottonwood Canyons (@UDOTcottonwoods) February 16, 2021

UDOT also warned of slush and snow on the roads along the Wasatch Front on Tuesday night and Wednesday morning due to the ongoing storm.

Heavy mountain snow is also expected to continue through Wednesday.

Weather Alert Update: Snow showers cont this afternoon with brief valley road slush. Widespread valley road snow along Wasatch Front (heaviest in SL/Tooele) tonight into WED impacting AM commute. Heavy mtn road snow cont thru WED. More info: https://t.co/4P1gO1U0Gg #utsnow #utwx pic.twitter.com/jiDtPYIDm6

— UDOT Traffic (@UDOTTRAFFIC) February 16, 2021

12:30 p.m.

State Route 190 through Big Cottonwood Canyon is now open in both directions, according to UDOT.

🚧 #RoadClosureUpdate 🚧 #SR190 is now OPEN to traffic in both directions. Drive with caution as roads are snowy and slick! 🚨❄️@UDOTTRAFFIC @SolitudeMTN @BrightonResort @UPDSL https://t.co/7WTbgKrP7R

— UDOT Cottonwood Canyons (@UDOTcottonwoods) February 16, 2021

12:15 p.m.

The Town of Alta has been placed on interlodge until further notice, according to authorities.

2/16 12:03PM The Town of Alta will remain on INTERLODGE until further notice. More avalanche mitigation expected.

— Alta Central (@AltaCentral) February 16, 2021

Noon

Avalanche mitigation has been completed on SR 190 through Big Cottonwood Canyon. The road is now open to uphill traffic only.

UDOT announced that the downhill lane remains closed so the snow plows can get the road in better condition.

🚧 #RoadClosureUpdate 🚧 @UDOTavy avalanche mitigation complete slide debris cleared. #SR190 is open to UPHILL traffic only at this time. Downhill remains closed so the plow/grader can get downhill lane in better condition. @UDOTTRAFFIC @SolitudeMTN @BrightonResort @UPDSL https://t.co/W3jsHmuR4j pic.twitter.com/7Vwa9f3Rkm

— UDOT Cottonwood Canyons (@UDOTcottonwoods) February 16, 2021

11:30 a.m.

The National Weather Service has issued a new winter storm warning for the Salt Lake and Tooele valleys. According to NWS, snow will continue falling through the night and will likely affect the Wednesday morning commute.

The winter storm warning comes just hours after the Utah Avalanche Center upgraded mountains in the Salt Lake area from high danger to extreme danger.

*New* Winter Storm Warning now in effect for the Salt Lake and Tooele Valleys. Watch out for Wednesday morning's commute! Snow will affect the entire Wasatch Front, but these areas in particular should see the heaviest amounts. #utwx #utsnow pic.twitter.com/gumYKBeqP2

— NWS Salt Lake City (@NWSSaltLakeCity) February 16, 2021

UDOT changed the estimated time for state Route 190 to reopen to noon.

Crews had originally estimated avalanche mitigation in Big Cottonwood Canyon would be complete by about 11:30 a.m.

🚧 #RoadClosureUpdate 🚧 @UDOTavy avalanche mitigation continues in #SR190 and @UtahDOT road ops work to clear results/slide offs. New estimated time of opening 12pm.

Stay tuned for updates. @UPDSL @UDOTTRAFFIC @BrightonResort @SolitudeMTN https://t.co/sbsY7Vvn53

— UDOT Cottonwood Canyons (@UDOTcottonwoods) February 16, 2021

10:15 a.m.

UDOT announced that SR 210 will remain closed for the rest of the day due to avalanche hazards.

“Control work is ongoing & snowfall rates/wind high,” according to a UDOT tweet. “Significant results are occurring.”

🚧 #RoadClosureUpdate 🚧 #SR210 will remain CLOSED to the public for the day due to avalanche hazard.

Control work is ongoing & snowfall rates/wind high. Significant results are occurring. @UDOTTRAFFIC @AltaSkiArea @AltaCentral @Snowbird pic.twitter.com/bQl0kJ6MHy

— UDOT Cottonwood Canyons (@UDOTcottonwoods) February 16, 2021

10 a.m.

State Route 210 is closed through Little Cottonwood Canyon for avalanche control. UDOT does not have an estimated time that the canyon will reopen.

The road was closed twice Monday, and it remained closed overnight.

🚧 #RoadClosureUpdate 🚧
S.R. 210 is closed to ALL travel for @UDOTavy control work. Control work is ongoing & snowfall rates 1”/hr. Crews cleaning debris where safe to do so.

NO EST TIME FOR PUBLIC OPENING. Please be patient, we will post when info is available. pic.twitter.com/qOQNkaXfQX

— UDOT Cottonwood Canyons (@UDOTcottonwoods) February 16, 2021

Lanes are also closed on SR 190 through Big Cottonwood Canyon for avalanche mitigation. Officials estimate the road will be reopened at approximately 11:30 a.m.

🚧 #RoadClosureAlert 🚧 #SR190 is closed to uphill traffic for @UDOTavy avalanche mitigation. 

Downhill traffic to close at Cardiff (MP 10.5) @ 10am.

Est time of opening 11:30am. Stay tuned for updates.@UDOTTRAFFIC @BrightonResort @SolitudeMTN @UPDSL @UtahDOT pic.twitter.com/ad9UZtADPd

— UDOT Cottonwood Canyons (@UDOTcottonwoods) February 16, 2021

6 a.m.

Due to the prolonged storm, avalanche dangers are extreme in both the Salt Lake and Uinta areas. The rest of the mountains with the exception of Moab and Abajos are at high danger levels.

Moab and Abajos are at considerable danger levels.