Rock slides close portion of Going-to-the-Sun Road July 19, 2012 Editor@montanaliving.com
Photo by David Restivo/Glacier National Park
Rock slides and mud slides blocked Going-to-the-Sun Road Tuesday after a pounding rainstorm continued to keep visitors off the famous road. The segment of road between Avalanche Creek and Logan Pass reopened today, park officials said. The sudden storm dropped as much as 1.5 inches on Glacier National Park’s high country within a half hour on Tuesday afternoon. The slides temporarily blocked about 150 vehicles on the road. One vehicle was damaged by a slide and had to be towed out. Two occupants in the car suffered minor injuries and were treated at the scene. As of Wednesday afternoon, it was estimated that about 800 to 900 cubic yards of material remained on Sun Road near Big Bend. Park road crews and contracted road construction crews have been working to clear the road along with culverts that have been blocked. Tuesday evening they were able to clear a one-lane path to get stranded vehicles and people out of the closure area. Park officials said the Avalanche Creek area was very congested Wednesday, and are advising visitors to explore other areas of the park while the closure is in effect.
