Utah DOT Seals Alpine Loop and Seven Other High-Elevation Routes for Winter
The Alpine Loop and Guardsman Pass are the first of eight seasonal roads closed to traffic as snowfall increases in the mountains.
By Yasmin Nasser ·
The Utah Department of Transportation closed the Alpine Loop on Monday as winter weather conditions arrived in the state's mountain regions.
The closure affects state Route 92 between Pine Hollow in American Fork Canyon and Aspen Grove above Sundance. This route is one of eight seasonal roads the agency shuts down each year to manage maintenance costs and safety risks. As of Monday, Guardsman Pass is the only other seasonal road currently closed.
John Gleason, the public relations director for UDOT, explained that high-elevation roads rarely thaw once cold weather sets in. He stated that maintaining these routes throughout the winter is not financially viable and poses safety challenges for drivers.
"Winter, when it moves in, we have those roads that are higher elevations that really don't thaw out," Gleason said. "From a budget standpoint, it doesn't make any sense to go out and continue to plow them, and it wouldn't be possible to keep those safe for people to travel through."
Drivers can still access Sundance via Provo Canyon and Tibble Fork Reservoir through American Fork Canyon, provided weather conditions allow. UDOT plans to reopen the Alpine Loop around Memorial Day weekend, contingent on road conditions.
The agency typically operates these seasonal closures from November until May. Motorists are advised to monitor the UDOT Traffic website for real-time updates on road conditions and closure schedules.
