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VERNAL — One lane is open to alternating traffic after the Utah Department of Transportation closed both lanes of U.S. 191 to Flaming Gorge Saturday evening after water spilled over the roadway from a failed culvert.
The highway was closed about 8 miles north of Vernal after water backed up and spilled over a culvert, flooding the road, said John Gleason, a UDOT spokesman. The road was closed at around 11 p.m. Saturday, according to the Uintah Basin Communications Facebook page.
“All indications that we have right now is actually that the road has dropped about a foot in that area,” Gleason said.
He said they expect the road to be closed for at least 24 hours while UDOT crews examine the road and determine what work needs to be done.
The road closure impacts travel to the Flaming Gorge National Recreation Area, as well as a mine owned by Simplot Phosphates, where many locals work, Gleason said.
At 9:07 a.m., UDOT tweeted that one lane had been re-opened to local traffic.
US-191 UPDATE: Road is temporarily open to local traffic with one-way traffic at MP 362. Check @UDOTTRAFFIC app for updates. — UDOT Region Three (@UDOTRegion3) May 21, 2017
This article will be updated with additional information as it becomes available. ![](https://beacon.deseretconnect.com/beacon.gif?cid=514446&pid=4)