ALTA, Utah — A powerful avalanche in Little Cottonwood Canyon on Tuesday evening forced the closure of SR-210 for several hours and left multiple vehicles trapped in the snow.
Officials with the Utah Department of Transportation (UDOT) confirmed late Tuesday night that the highway had been cleared, and restrictions for resort areas had been lifted.
“Our teams have been working nonstop to ensure safety in the canyon,” said John Gleason, UDOT’s public relations director.
Avalanche Precautions Prove Crucial
According to Gleason, avalanche mitigation efforts had taken place earlier in the day, helping reduce the potential damage from the natural slide.
“This could have been much worse if we hadn’t taken those precautions,” he noted. “Thankfully, there were no injuries reported.”
Two vehicles were partially buried by the avalanche but were quickly retrieved. UDOT crews remained on-site to continue avalanche control work.
Ongoing Avalanche Risk in the Area
“This is one of the most dangerous roads in the world when it comes to avalanches,” Gleason stated, referring to SR-210. He explained that certain areas near the ski resorts pose unique challenges since mitigation work cannot be performed while people are present.
Earlier in the day, UDOT Cottonwood Canyons issued an advisory urging uphill traffic to avoid the area, while downhill drivers were told to return to parking lots for safety.
Detective Bennett with the Salt Lake County Sheriff’s Office confirmed that three vehicles were impacted by the slide, but no injuries occurred.
Authorities continue to monitor conditions in the canyon, emphasizing the importance of adhering to safety advisories during high avalanche risk periods.
