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SALT LAKE CITY (AP) -- A house-sized boulder that had blocked both lanes of state Road 9 in Zion National Park was broken up with explosives Saturday evening, reopening the Zion Mount Carmel Tunnel to traffic.
The rock fell on the road, which crosses the southern portion of the park, on Friday, bringing hundreds of tons of debris along with it. At least two explosions were needed to break up the boulder, which was then carried away in pieces with heavy equipment, said Park Ranger Julie Sherman.
Both lanes of the famed mile-long subway were open by 6:30 p.m. Saturday.
It was the second rockslide to hit the switchback in as many weeks. On Feb. 13, a stone slab 3 feet thick, 5 feet wide and 20 feet long crashed onto the roadway, temporarily blocking traffic.
(Copyright 2005 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)
