Zion's Utah Route 9 Closed by Rock Fall 9-23-2015

[ArdraF]

On Wednesday at 4:30 a.m. there was a serious rock fall near Pine Creek Bridge on the Zion-Mount Carmel Highway.  The Pine Creek Bridge is on the west side of the tunnel, a half mile east of the Canyon Junction shuttle stop.  It is near the first switchback going up to the tunnel.  The largest boulder is 19 feet high, 20 feet long, 15 feet wide, and weighs about 200 tons.  The road crew needs to break up this very large boulder in order to remove it.  Then they need to remove other smaller boulders, and evaluate the cliff face for other hazards before reopening the road.  The National Park Service expects it to be closed at least through the weekend.  Alternate routes to Mount Carmel and east are Highway 59 from Hurricane and Highway 14 from Cedar City.

 

[Elly Dalmaijer]

Can you imagine if that monster had fallen during daytime traffic? Wow!

Thanks for posting.

Elly

 

[Jeannine]

The road is now open.

We are at Bryce Canyon; there was a notice posted in the Visitor Center about the road repair.

Jeannine

 

[ArdraF]

Thanks, Jeannine.  Haven't been on the forum for a couple of days and was going to post the reopening.  They really got it done fast!

ArdraF

 

[Sr Fox]

Yikes! I'm am glad it water to fall till after we safely passed in mid Sept