Snow storm closes parts of highways across eastern Idaho
UPDATE 3:30 p.m. The Idaho Office of Emergency Management opened its Emergency Operations Center and activated to Level 3 Tuesday. The office is monitoring its response to significant snowfall across the state. No county emergency declarations have been ordered yet.
“Across the state, and especially in Eastern Idaho, heavy snows coupled with high winds are creating low visibility and massive snow drifts,” said ITD Chief Deputy Scott Stokes. “ITD’s primary mission is maintaining the safety and mobility of Idaho’s transportation system. We close roads when the traveling public and our ITD crews are in jeopardy.”
Stokes added, “It is super important that people do not drive past closures. If a road is closed, that means it is completely impassable and unsafe for travel.”
Here’s how it looked as of 3:30 p.m.
There are currently a number of road closures across Idaho:
ID-21: Closed from Idaho City to Lowman ID-21: Closed from Grandjean Junction to Banner Summit ID-33: Closed from Victor to Wyoming State Line (avalanche control) ID-34: Soda Springs to Wyoming State Line ID-47: Closed from Ashton to Bear Gulch ID-75: Closed from Ketchum to Stanley (avalanche at Galena Summit) ID-87: Complete closure US-20: Closed from Carey to Arco US-20: Closed from Ashton to Montana State Line –likely closed for several days I-15: Closed from Dubois to Montana State Line
ITD strongly recommends no one attempts to travel in these areas as local roads are likewise impacted by continuous storm conditions.
In western Wyoming, Teton Pass on Wyoming 22 between Wilson and the Idaho State Line was closed at 11 a.m. It was expected to remain closed for 5 to 7 hours to allow for avalanche control. Parking on the road is prohibited.
US26: Moose – Moran Jct: Closed BOTH DIRECTIONS due to winter conditions. As of Feb 25 at 11:59, the est open time is unknown. Jackson – the S Boundary of Grand Teton Nat’l Park: Open to all traffic
US26: Jackson – the S Boundary of Grand Teton Nat’l Park: Closed BOTH DIRECTIONS due to avalanche control. As of Feb 26 at 14:03, the est open time is unknown. Moose – Moran Jct: Closed BOTH DIRECTIONS due to winter conditions. As of Feb 25 at 11:59, the est open time is unknown.
US89: Moose – Moran Jct: Closed BOTH DIRECTIONS due to winter conditions. As of Feb 25 at 11:59, the est open time is unknown. Jackson – the S Boundary of Grand Teton Nat’l Park: Open to all traffic
US89: Jackson – the S Boundary of Grand Teton Nat’l Park is now open. (as of 3:50 p.m.)
Wyoming 28, between Farson and the Fremont/Sublette County Line was closed to light and high profile vehicles due to active blowovers in that area.
WYDOT is recommending “no unnecessary travel” throughout most of western Wyoming this afternoon.
UPDATE: 8:10 a.m. 2-26
START Bus has announced there will be no Teton Valley commuter bus service Tuesday. That includes afternoon return routes. Star Valley commuter runs are not affected.
Due to road and weather conditions and a high volume of riders, Teton Village routes may also be impacted.
US-20: Idaho Falls to US-26 is now open.
UPDATE 6:25 p.m. Interstate 15 is now closed from Dubois to the Montana border (milepost 167 to 197).
UPDATE 4:30 p.m. East Idaho currently has a total of eight road closures due to blowing and drifting snow and low visibility. The following lists the current roads that are closed:
US-20: Idaho Falls to US-26 US-20: Ashton to Montana State Line SH-87 SH-47 SH-32 SH-33: Newdale to Tetonia SH-20/26/93: Carey to Arco SH-34: Blackfoot River Rd. to Wyoming State Line
Due to the severity of the weather, the road closures are estimated to take several days to open with weather permitting. Additional resources are being dedicated to re-open the roads as quickly as feasible.
ITD strongly recommends no one attempts to travel in these areas as local roads are likewise impacted by continuous storm conditions.
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UPDATE 11:46 a.m. Highway 31 from Victor to Swan Valley (which includes Pine Creek Pass) has been reopened.
START Bus has announced there will be no Teton Valley commuter bus service Monday. That includes afternoon return routes. Star Valley commuter runs are not affected.
Due to road and weather conditions and a high volume of riders, Teton Village routes may also be impacted.
The Wyoming Department of Transportation has scheduled a closure of WY 22/Teton Pass for Monday, February 25, 2019 at 10 p.m. for avalanche mitigation.
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Drifting snow and low visibility have closed a number of highways in the area.
U.S. Highway 20 between Ashton and the Montana state line.
Idaho Highway 87 between Island Park and the Montana state line.
Idaho Highway 32 is closed from Ashton to Tetonia.
Highway 33 is closed from Newdale and Tetonia.
Highway 47 between Ashton and Bear Gulch.
Highway 34 between Soda Springs and the Wyoming state line.
SH 31 blocked while crews are working in the area. They will be working from Victor to Swan Valley, MP 0 to 21 to remove snow.
ID 28 is closed from milepost 15 to milepost 30.5, Mud Lake to 15 miles north of the Mud Lake area.
It is not clear when the roads will reopen.
