Update: Avalanche Alley, also known as Idaho Highway 21 between Grandjean Junction and Banner Summit on the way to Stanley re-opened Saturday, December 31st at 12:20pm.
BOISE, Id – The section of Idaho Highway 21 known as Avalanche Alley closed down today. The 12-mile stretch runs between . Reed Hollinshead is the Public Information Specialist for the Idaho Transportation Department.
Reed Hollinshead “This is the first one this year but it does happen every year, it’s just a precautionary closure, it’s just best in those cases to close it down before someone gets trapped and one of those things comes down on top of them.”
Hollinshead blames the weather for the closure. The snowpack around that stretch of road is weak and rain in the forecast will increase the chance of an avalanche. He says this part of Idaho 21 earns its nickname of “Avalanche Alley” every year.
Reed Hollinshead “It’s a stretch that’s home to about 60 different avalanche paths and about 90 percent of all the activity in the state that happens to do with highway and avalanches, happens right in that area, so we end up closing that thing down probably nine, ten, eleven, twelve days of the year.”
If conditions deteriorate, the road could be closed a week or more. If the weather cooperates, the road could re-open as soon as Saturday. Hollinshead says to find out when the highway will re-open, call Idaho Traveler Services at 511 for updates.
Copyright 2011 BSPR
