JACKSON, Wyo. — Heads up, commuters. The Wyoming Department of Transportation (WYDOT) has announced a planned closure of US189/191 through Hoback Canyon on Wednesday morning, June 18.
The closure will accommodate helicopter operations in the area, necessary for performing maintenance on avalanche infrastructure in Stinking Springs. Crews will be servicing the O’Bellx units, which use explosions to trigger smaller, controlled avalanches in hopes of preventing large, uncontrolled avalanches. These units are operated remotely via computers, but they are installed and removed using a helicopter.
Drivers can expect delays of up to 30 minutes in the canyon between 6:30 a.m. and 7:30 a.m., according to WYDOT.
“For the safety of the traveling public and the safety of WYDOT crews, the road must be briefly closed and free of moving traffic for helicopter operation,” WYDOT’s announcement states. “Roadside flaggers will control traffic for the operation. All times are approximate and subject to change.”
