US 89 in Spanish Fork Canyon opens several days after flooding
May 18, 2023, 4:38 PM | Updated: 7:10 pm
THISTLE, Utah County — U.S. 89 has been reopened between Fairview and near Thistle in Spanish Fork Canyon, days after flooding forced its closure.
About 25 miles of the highway were closed in both directions early Monday morning, according to the Utah Department of Transportation.
UDOT crews are making good progress on US-89 in the Thistle area where water has covered the road.
They’ve redirected the water back into the creek channel.
US-89 is still closed in this area but UDOT hopes to reopen it tonight or tomorrow @KSL5TV @KSLcom @kslnewsradio pic.twitter.com/4MkbGlboh8
— Ladd Egan (@laddegan) May 18, 2023
UDOT announced the road was open in a tweet Thursday afternoon.
“Thanks to our crews for working tirelessly to clear the flood waters off the road,” the tweet said.
UPDATE: US-89 near Thistle has reopened.
UDOT says the work done to get Thistle Creek back in its channel was successful. But with high temperatures sticking around crews are ready to respond if water approaches the roadway again. @KSL5TV @KSLcom @kslnewsradio @KSLTraffic pic.twitter.com/hzvb4ETUQe
— Ladd Egan (@laddegan) May 18, 2023
UDOT planning manager Geoff Dupaix said in a statement that crews worked with landowners to access Thistle Creek in order to reestablish the channel.
“This is not typically our role,” Dupaix said. “At the same time, we feel it is necessary as we continue to try to divert the water away from the highway.”
The work along the creek channel was successful and by Thursday morning road crews were busy cleaning U.S. 89 of mud and debris. Crews also inspected the roadway for any damage caused by the flooding.
“UDOT is also looking at long-term solutions that include raising US-89 through the Thistle Creek area,” the statement went on to say.
