3/4/2012
Reed Hollinshead
ITD Communication
208-334-8881
reed.hollinshead@itd.idaho.gov
Section of Highway 21 to close today for fifth time this winter
BOISE COUNTY - The 12-mile stretch of Idaho 21 between the Grandjean Junction and Banner Summit will close today (Sunday, March 4) at 11 a.m. as an avalanche safety precaution, the Idaho Transportation Department announced.
No slides have occurred yet, but rapid heating of the snow accumulation from the last several days is causing instability.
This will be the fifth closure of this section of road this winter. In all, 48 slides have come down onto the highway since the first of November.
The notorious "Avalanche Alley" section between the Grandjean Junction turnoff and Banner Summit is home to about 60 avalanche chutes and 90 percent of the avalanches in the state that affect highways.
For the latest highway and weather conditions, call Idaho Traveler Services at 5-1-1. For online updates, visit the website at 511.idaho.gov. Telephone and Web reports are available 24 hours a day and are updated as conditions change.