SPRINGDALE, Utah, March 12, 2019 (Gephardt Daily) — State Route 9 through Zion National Park has partially reopened after an “active rock slide,” officials said Tuesday.
A Facebook post from Zion National Park said SR-9, also called the Mount Carmel Highway, was closed the evening of March 2 after heavy rains undercut the road. One lane of the road will temporarily reopen at 5 p.m., Tuesday, March 12.
“However, due to safety concerns, buses and RVs are still prohibited,” the post said.
The road will be a single lane around the damaged area and will be managed by a traffic signal.
“Visitors should obey traffic signals and expect delays,” the post said. “Vehicles sized 7 feet 10 inches in width or 11 feet 4 inches in height, or larger, will not be allowed on the road between Canyon Junction and the park’s East Entrance. As road repairs progress, the entire road may close periodically.”
For oversized vehicles, alternate east and west driving routes are available via U.S. Highway 59 from Hurricane to Fredonia, Arizona and U.S. Highway 14 from Cedar City to Long Valley Junction and U.S. Highway 89. People coming from Interstate 15 to the Park may access Zion National Park as usual by traveling east on SR-9 through Springdale.
All canyoneering routes on the east side will remain accessible for permitted activities, the post said. However, permits will not be issued when road closures are required.
“Visitors need to reduce their speed throughout the switchbacks, drive with care, and be alert for falling rocks,” said park spokesman Aly Baltrus. “We are going to try to keep the road open as much as we can, but it is a tight space and we will need to get construction vehicles and materials in and out too. There is also additional precipitation in the forecast.”
Gephardt Daily will have more on this developing story as information is made available.
