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Sam Penrod ReportingFor the first time in nearly a year, UDOT has resumed using a military cannon for avalanche control in Provo Canyon. Last year an errant shell blew up in the backyard of a home, prompting major changes in UDOT's avalanche control.
UDOT has more oversight now when using the howitzer. The sheriff's department is involved and the shells are preloaded down in the valley and then checked and re-checked, all in an effort to avoid having another shell overshoot its target.
The 105 mm howitzer, which dates back to the Korean War, is UDOT's tool to control avalanches in Provo Canyon. When the avalanche danger is high, the road below is closed and rounds are fired into the snow to intentionally start slides.
Nile Easton, UDOT Spokesman: "We brought down several pretty big slides, we're glad we did that if we don't do that, we are basically risking that it will come down on its own, at any given time."
Today UDOT, which is responsible for avalanche control in Provo Canyon, allowed news cameras to see how it is done.
Last March near disaster happened in a family's backyard in Pleasant Grove, when too much gunpowder was accidentally loaded in. UDOT says major changes to its procedures have now been made.
Nile Easton, UDOT Spokesman: "We have safeguard built upon safeguard built upon safeguard to make sure everything works the way it should."
Without avalanche control, there is a history in Provo Canyon of slides roaring onto the highway, leaving several feet of snow. UDOT says while using a military type cannon may seem risky, the danger of doing nothing is much worse.
Nile Easton, UDOT Spokesman: "Either we need to close the road for several days until we feel the avalanche danger is less or we do what we are doing now and so it's really the best way to keep the road open."
UDOT did close the highway in Provo Canyon for about two hours today during the avalanche control. They say the road closures are necessary just in case part of the slide makes it onto the road.
