UDOT announces reopening dates for some of Utah's biggest mountain routes

Crews work to clear snow from Guardsman Pass between Brighton and Park City on May 7. The route is slated to reopen by the end of the month.

Crews work to clear snow from Guardsman Pass between Brighton and Park City on May 7. The route is slated to reopen by the end of the month. (Utah Department of Transportation)


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SALT LAKE CITY — State Route 148 in Cedar Breaks National Monument reopened on Tuesday, but some of Utah's other remaining picturesque seasonal routes are slated to reopen just in time for the Memorial Day weekend.

SR 65, which links East Canyon and Emigration Canyon, is on track to reopen on Friday, as will state Route 39, alternatively known as Monte Cristo Highway, according to the Utah Department of Transportation. The agency adds that Guardsman Pass, which links Brighton to Park City, is scheduled to reopen on May 22. Wolf Creek Summit already reopened late last month.

All of the remaining routes have been closed for months, as it's too expensive and dangerous to keep the high-elevation roads open during the winter. Most routes close around November and reopen in May, but the timing also depends on weather conditions, state transportation officials explained.

Brighton Resort, which is near Guardsman Pass, received nearly 40 feet of snow this season, which is slightly above its annual snowfall average. That's left plenty of snow to clear before the roadway can reopen.

UDOT officials posted a video last week showing the ongoing work to clear the highway to reach the state's May 22 goal. However, if successful, it will open just ahead of the holiday weekend at the end of the month.

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Carter Williams is a reporter for KSL.com. He covers Salt Lake City, statewide transportation issues, outdoors, the environment and weather. He is a graduate of Southern Utah University.
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