Date: September 11, 2006
Contact: Nash, (307) 344-2010
Contact: Vallie, (307) 344-2012
The road between Mammoth Hot Springs and Tower Junction in Yellowstone National Park reopened shortly before 8 o’clock Monday morning after being closed for nearly 24 hours due to a rock slide.
The slide was reported shortly after 8:30 Sunday morning. Rocks and debris covered a section of road about 4 miles east of Mammoth Hot Springs near the Undine Falls Picnic Area. No one was hurt or trapped by the slide.
No road damage was discovered after the initial slide debris was cleared. However, there were serious concerns that rock and dirt remaining above the roadway might loosen and fall. Park staff members climbed above the slide area and easily dislodged a significant amount of loose material. The park’s contract helicopter was brought in to drop a bucket of water on the hillside to aid in the removal of loose rock and dirt above the road.
The road was cleared by evening, but remained closed overnight as a safety precaution. The road was reopened to traffic after an early morning inspection showed no more material had fallen from the hillside.
The cause of the original slide Sunday morning is unknown.
During the temporary closure, those traveling between Mammoth Hot Springs and Tower Junction or Cooke City were detoured by way of Norris and Canyon.
Information on park road conditions is available 24 hours a day by calling the park’s road information hotline at 307-344-2117.
-www.nps.gov/yell –
