Proposed change for America's most avy-prone road

[Endlessseason]

Resorts want fixes in slide-prone road

Little Cottonwood avalanche danger cited
By Joe Baird
The Salt Lake Tribune
2004-07-17 01:44:49.209

ALTA - Next-door neighbors atop Little Cottonwood Canyon for the past four decades, old-fashioned Alta and glitzy Snowbird might not seem to have much in common. But in fact, the two ski resorts share many interests - including a desire to make the most avalanche-prone road in North America safer.
On Friday, they called for a radical new approach in battling the avalanche hazards along Little Cottonwood Canyon Road - the only way to get in and out of the resorts in the winter.
Alta General Manager Onno Wieringa and Snowbird President Bob Bonar asked the Utah Transportation Commission to fund a study of alternatives for realigning a two-mile stretch in the middle of the canyon - essentially in and around the Tanners slide area - that has been particularly vulnerable to dangerous slides.
"What we're talking about is taking Little Cottonwood Canyon avalanche prevention to the next level," Wieringa told commissioners, who oversee funding for state road projects and met at Alta Friday.
Formally known as state Route 210, Little Cottonwood Canyon Road falls under the jurisdiction of the Utah Department of Transportation.
"In the past few years we've talked about avalanche sheds as a way to deal with this problem in the White Pine and Tanners areas," Wieringa continued. "But it's just recently that we've started to look at this in a broader and bigger way. Let's get a planner in to look at it, and plan a road that misses the [avalanche] chutes and will be less steep."
As it is, Bonar said, "the road is a nightmare. It's a problem for us. It's worked only because of the efforts of [UDOT]. There are a lot more close calls than any of you know about. It's something we really need to work on."
According to Wieringa, Little Cottonwood Canyon Road, with its 25 slide areas from top to bottom, ranks as the most dangerous road in North America when it comes to avalanche susceptibility - topping the Avalanche Hazard Index with a score of 766. By contrast, he said, neighboring Big Cottonwood Canyon Road rates a 151. British Columbia's Roger's Pass, which used to have a rating similar to Little Cottonwood's, has been downgraded to a 171 with the addition of avalanche sheds.
And Little Cottonwood's avalanche hazards continue to exist, he added, in a time when recreation pressure on the canyon and the road continues to mount. Thousands of skiers and employees fill both resorts daily at the peak of winter. Even in the summer, the ski areas play host to sizeable crowds.
That said, the Alta general manager acknowledged that any such rerouting of the road would be a "huge step."
For starters, an early, conceptual proposal for a realigned road south of the existing highway takes it right to, and in one short stretch over, the border of the Lone Peak Wilderness area. As proposed, the new portion of the road also would run much closer to Little Cottonwood Creek, which could bring watershed issues into play.
"Going into the wilderness area is a concern and moving the road closer to the water may solve one problem and create another," said Lisa Smith, executive director of the environmental group Save Our Canyons. "If moving the road down the hill and closer to the creek is a good idea, we're all for looking at it, but our hope is they will take an even broader look at it to address the safety issue and the capacity issue."
Such an undertaking in Little Cottonwood also would be expensive. UDOT Deputy Director Carlos Braceras told commissioners a quick, off-the-top-of-his-head cost estimate would be between $20 million and $40 million, using the long-running Provo Canyon road reconstruction project as a barometer.
Alta Mayor Bill Levitt considers it a small price to pay to solve a continuing problem that causes considerable delays and expense, and could have tragic consequences if it is not addressed.
"We wouldn't support anything that would be environmentally damaging," Levitt said. "At the same time, there are some clear issues we need to work through. You get to the point where you need to look at realities. We've reached that point."
jbaird@sltrib.com

[Endlessseason]

http://extras.mnginteractive.com/liv...cottonwood.jpg

[tywhy]

that sure would be something huh? imagine the fit the Save Our Canyons hippies are going to throw over this one. I wasn't aware LCC was rated as the most dangerous avalanche prone road in the country.

[shamrockpow]

So who is going to be paying for this new road? An Alta/Snowbird combo? Or are they just trying to squeeze money out of the state/county for 'safety' reasons?

[Stoysluttie1]

Interesting...the new road would go through the Lone Peak Wilderness....isn't that an oxymoron? A road ina wilderness?

[tywhy]

can anyone explain what an avalanche shed is?

[iceman]

Basically a long shed over the road, kinda on the same idea as a covered bridge.

[13]

Pasted from: http://www.dot.state.ut.us/index.php.../d=full/type=2

Liam Fitzgerald: The Business of Snow

"It's the day to day weather that affects our work."
Liam Fitzgerald, UDOT’s avalanche forecast supervisor, routinely makes the most important decisions of his day before most of us even start ours. By 4 a.m., he must evaluate weather and snowpack data to determine the avalanche risk, which dictates the avalanche crew’s daily schedule.

“It's the day to day weather that affects our work,” said Fitzgerald. “We take it day by day, storm by storm, snowflake by snowflake.”

The avalanche crew operates from three facilities located in Provo Canyon, Big Cottonwood Canyon and Little Cottonwood Canyon. These offices continuously monitor local weather conditions and forecasts. Avalanche forecasters compare this information with their own snowpack analysis to determine the avalanche hazard index.

When the avalanche hazard level is high, the avalanche crewmembers make decisions to ensure the safety of motorists on Utah’s mountainous roads. Possible actions include restricting traffic thorough particularly hazardous areas or triggering artificial avalanches when the threat of natural avalanches is present.

“My decisions are always driven by concerns for public safety,” Fitzgerald said. “Traffic management is a large part of my job and I want to see that our decisions are in the best interests of our motorists.”

The high volume of traffic on the roads greatly increases the threat of avalanche impact to citizens. State Route 210 in Little Cottonwood Canyon has the highest avalanche hazard index of any major road in America. With an average snowfall of 500 inches per year, steep terrain and heavy traffic volume, S.R. 210 warrants the high rating and concern.

"I would like to see an increase in car pooling and mass transit. By diminishing the traffic, we can lessen the threat of avalanches impacting people and lessen the concern along S.R. 210.”

UDOT's avalanche program works closely with ski resort management, public officials and citizens. These organizations all aid in the collaborative success efforts of the avalanche crew.

“I think they see it as a benefit to themselves to ensure that we have the most updated information. We can then, in turn, be of better service to them.”

The task of accurately anticipating avalanche dangers creates tremendous stress for the avalanche forecasters. In addition to adhering to the scientific data, avalanche crewmembers must rely on the expertise of each other. Due to their efforts, people can safely live, play and work in Utah’s beautiful mountains.

[Hacksaw]

Originally posted by tywhy
can anyone explain what an avalanche shed is?

An avalanche shed is basicly a structure over the road, that allows the avalanche to run over the road and not bury it. Its sort of like a tunnel.

The problem with them is that they have to be built of of reenforced concreat, so that they can withstand high impact forces from the avalanches (thousands of pounds per square foot, etc....). I have seen cost estimates of $100,000's per foot of linner shed coverage. So, they are very exspensive to build.

Moiving the road would most likely cost less then trying to build avalanche sled coverage over ALL of the effected road.

Cheers,
Halsted

[iceman]

My answer wasn't good enough?

[Hacksaw]

Iceman,
Your answer was fine. But, it didn't address why avalanche sheds are not used a lot in this country (i.e., that their so exspensive). Didn't mean to upstage you.
Halsted

[iceman]

No worries hacksaw, just goofing around per usual.

[basom]

Originally posted by iceman
No worries hacksaw, just goofing around per usual.

camon ice. get pissed.

[iceman]

What the hell are you doing sitting in front of a computer at 12:50 AM on a Saturday night, base? I'm married, I have an excuse.

Saw a nice show earlier tonight, Nappy Roots (they were okay) and then Galactic. Outdoor show down by the US Capital, cool site.

Galactic killed, but I didn't meet a single person who knew the name of the new girl singer.

[basom]

i was out at the bah, but the ol' flipper has been swelling the past few days. so i bailed to ice that bitch down.

kinda worrisome, seems like i took a few steps backwards someow.

swamp funk is rad.

[iceman]

crap, take care of that thing, wouldya?

bums me out to hear that

get strong

[tibaher]

get used to it basom...
edit: but don't let it get you down eh?
not to be a downer, but I am convinced mine will never be the same.
I'm just waiting for the arthritis to kick in actually

[basom]

edit:

[tibaher]

sorry for the downer post, I've just been feeling especially arthritic lately.

Your's was the ACL only right? You prolly won't experience what I go through then...
I actually lost part of both meniscus as well, which is the reason for the bone mashing that occurs in high impact activities....

[splat]

AS for the road discussion, I have one suggestion: a monorail.
The support columns would be angled to deflect avies.

As for discussions on arthritic aches: give it 20 years.

[MacDaddy]

Originally posted by tywhy
I wasn't aware LCC was rated as the most dangerous avalanche prone road in the country.

WHAT!!

come on tywhy with all due respect!!

you say you live here( SLC) and you have posted over 150 times you obviously havent seen "the Blizzard of Ahhhhs" ????

that film should be a prerequisite to be member at TGR huh?

[MacDaddy]

OK it's obvious my late post times, to the "old guard" that I Have been imbibing this eve.

but I still like splats idea..

I would rather have a safety meeting in a monorail than in a 4runner....!!

[slim]

Originally posted by splat
I have one suggestion: a monorail.

http://www.wolfwater.com/ct/sh/marge_monorail.jpg

[MacDaddy]

Originally posted by ..
LCC is not the "most avalanche prone" road in the states. Far from it.

OK
MR ..

where do u suggest is the most avalanche prone state/county or city road in the US.

taking into consideration snowpack, slope, and traffic.????

prolly somewhere in the PNW huh???

[MacDaddy]

Originally posted by slim
http://www.wolfwater.com/ct/sh/marge_monorail.jpg

slim is one quick rat bastard

nice work

lmao!!