12/14/2006
Idaho 21 remains closed; ITD crews monitor area's weather and avalanche conditions
GRANDJEAN - Idaho 21 between the Grandjean junction and Banner summit is scheduled to remain closed at least through the weekend, the Idaho Transportation Department announced.
Gary McKinney, an ITD District 3 maintenance coordinator, said the weather forecast was calling for additional snow on Thursday during the day and during the evening hours.
The section of Idaho 21 between the Grandjean junction and Banner summit was closed Wednesday evening. McKinney said several inches of snow fell in the area by Wednesday afternoon with heavy snowfall continuing.
"We had quite a bit of snowfall come down Wednesday," McKinney said Thursday. "Then the temperatures warmed up. That's what leads to the unstable snowpack."
The National Weather Service in Boise said there is a chance of more snow on Friday during the afternoon and evening hours.
Transportation department crews are monitoring the section of highway. McKinney said the closure will remain in effect until conditions are safe for motorists.
Idaho 21 is a regional route between Stanley and the Treasure Valley. The 9-mile section of the highway between the Banner summit and the Grandjean junction, called Canyon Creek, has numerous documented avalanche chutes. Idaho 21 between the Banner summit and the Grandjean junction experiences about 90 percent of the avalanches in the state.
McKinney said motorists seeking alternate routes to the area are advised to use Idaho 75 or U.S. 20. From Mountain Home, U.S. 20 heads in a northeast direction and connects with Idaho 75. Idaho 75 then heads north through Bellevue, Hailey, Ketchum and the Sun Valley area. From Twin Falls, motorists can take U.S. 93 to the north. U.S. 93 turns into Idaho 75 and heads north through the same communities.
During the winter months, the Idaho Transportation Department advises motorists to monitor road conditions by visiting www.511.idaho.gov or calling 511.
Gary McKinney, an ITD District 3 maintenance coordinator, said the weather forecast was calling for additional snow on Thursday during the day and during the evening hours.
The section of Idaho 21 between the Grandjean junction and Banner summit was closed Wednesday evening. McKinney said several inches of snow fell in the area by Wednesday afternoon with heavy snowfall continuing.
"We had quite a bit of snowfall come down Wednesday," McKinney said Thursday. "Then the temperatures warmed up. That's what leads to the unstable snowpack."
The National Weather Service in Boise said there is a chance of more snow on Friday during the afternoon and evening hours.
Transportation department crews are monitoring the section of highway. McKinney said the closure will remain in effect until conditions are safe for motorists.
Idaho 21 is a regional route between Stanley and the Treasure Valley. The 9-mile section of the highway between the Banner summit and the Grandjean junction, called Canyon Creek, has numerous documented avalanche chutes. Idaho 21 between the Banner summit and the Grandjean junction experiences about 90 percent of the avalanches in the state.
McKinney said motorists seeking alternate routes to the area are advised to use Idaho 75 or U.S. 20. From Mountain Home, U.S. 20 heads in a northeast direction and connects with Idaho 75. Idaho 75 then heads north through Bellevue, Hailey, Ketchum and the Sun Valley area. From Twin Falls, motorists can take U.S. 93 to the north. U.S. 93 turns into Idaho 75 and heads north through the same communities.
During the winter months, the Idaho Transportation Department advises motorists to monitor road conditions by visiting www.511.idaho.gov or calling 511.