3/20/2009
Idaho 21 through Canyon Creek to remain closed through weekend
BOISE -- Highway 21 from Grandjean Junction to Banner Summit will remain closed at least through Sunday evening. The Idaho Transportation Department's avalanche team closed the popular recreation route last Saturday (March 14th) at around 8 pm due to unstable snow pack and frequent snow slides onto the roadway.
"While keeping Canyon Creek closed may be inconvenient for people heading into the first week of spring, safety is always our number one concern at ITD," explained region 2 engineer Tom Points. "Snow conditions have worked in our favor this season. Last winter we closed highway 21 a total of 31-days while this year we've had it closed a total of eleven days prior to this week."
Points says that back in the 1980's the highway was kept closed all winter long. ITD formed an avalanche team in 2002 to find ways to forecast the frequent snow slide and avalanche problem in Canyon Creek. The team actively monitors the corridor and takes proactive steps such as bringing down unstable snow pack before it falls on its own-- a situation that can trap motorists in hard-to-reach areas and can be extremely dangerous.
ITD recommends that valley motorists traveling in that area take I-84 to Mountain Home, go northeast on U.S. 20 to Junction 75, then north through Sun Valley into Stanley. The detour will add 50-minutes to an hour of travel time. Drive safely and check 511 before you by phone or by logging on to www.511.itd.idaho.gov for the latest road conditions.