UDOT closes Alpine Loop for winter as seasonal road closures begin

PLEASANT GROVE — As winter weather moves into Utah's mountains, the Utah Department of Transportation is beginning its seasonal road closures.

The Alpine Loop, also known as state Route 92, is now closed between Pine Hollow in American Fork Canyon and Aspen Grove above Sundance.

UDOT said higher-elevation roads can become difficult to keep safe once winter weather moves in.

"Winter, when it moves in, we have those roads that are higher elevations that really don't thaw out," said John Gleason, UDOT public relations director.

The Alpine Loop will remain closed through the winter. UDOT typically works to reopen seasonal roads around Memorial Day weekend, depending on weather and road conditions.

"We made the strategic move to keep those roads closed for the winter season that usually goes from about November until maybe May. We'll try to get them open again around Memorial Day weekend," Gleason said.

Drivers can still reach Sundance through Provo Canyon and Tibble Fork Reservoir through American Fork Canyon, weather and road conditions permitting.

UDOT closes eight seasonal roads across Utah each winter. The closures help avoid the challenges and costs of keeping high-elevation roads plowed and safe for drivers.

"We have eight seasonal roads throughout Utah, and we close those every year, every winter. From a budget standpoint, it doesn't make any sense to go out and continue to plow them, and it wouldn't be possible to keep those safe for people to travel through," Gleason said. As of Monday, two of those roads are closed: the Alpine Loop and Guardsman Pass.

Drivers can check the UDOT Traffic website for current road conditions and seasonal closure updates.

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