UDOT Prepares for Winter with Annual Avalanche Mitigation Equipment Testing in Cottonwood Canyons
December 3, 2024
New remote avalanche control systems enhance safety and efficiency for avalanche and road operations crews
Today the Utah Department of Transportation (UDOT) avalanche and road crews concluded annual test firing of avalanche mitigation equipment in Big and Little Cottonwood Canyons to prepare for the winter season. UDOT tested a variety of equipment today in Little Cottonwood Canyon, as well as a Howitzer in the Stairs Gulch area in Big Cottonwood Canyon last week.
UDOT uses remote avalanche control systems (RACS) and artillery like Howitzers to trigger avalanches that threaten public roads throughout Utah. There are 64 slide paths in Little Cottonwood Canyon alone, with more than half of the road threatened by avalanches. Additionally, 50 buildings and 76% of the road passing through Snowbird and the Town of Alta are in avalanche paths.
This past summer, UDOT installed 16 Wyssen Avalanche Towers, a type of RACS, in Little Cottonwood Canyon on the Mount Superior ridgeline above the road to transition away from the Howitzer that has been used on the south side of the canyon. The new RACS discharge explosives at the towers and are detonated remotely, allowing for more efficient and safe avalanche mitigation for workers and the public when previously UDOT was shooting live artillery over the road and buildings in the Town of Alta.
“Our top priority is ensuring the safety of everyone traveling through the Cottonwood Canyons,” UDOT Avalanche Safety Program Manager Steven Clark. “This training exercise gives us an opportunity to make sure our new equipment is working properly to handle the unique challenges of the canyon.”
From Nov. 1–May 15, there is no parking allowed in designated avalanche zones on both sides of the road within the posted areas. All visitors should avoid parking in these zones to allow UDOT crews to do their jobs safely and effectively.
“Our road operations crews work closely with avalanche safety, our operations partners and local law enforcement throughout the winter,” UDOT Cottonwoods Road Operations Station Supervisor Shawn Wright said. “We appreciate the community respecting both the backcountry and road closures so we can safely do a full run through of what a closure day looks like for our crews and partners.”
To learn more about UDOT’s avalanche mitigation program, visit the UDOT Avalanche and Cottonwood Canyons websites.