Ogden Canyon to reopen after Ogden River washes away bank under road

May 11, 2023, 12:16 PM | Updated: May 13, 2023, 2:36 pm

BY JOSH ELLIS AND LADD EGAN, KSL TV

KSLTV.com

OGDEN CANYON, Utah — State Route 39 was closed most of Thursday in Ogden Canyon after the Ogden River washed away part of the road.

UDOT spokesperson Mitch Shaw said the canyon will open to the general public starting at 8 p.m. Thursday. A temporary traffic light will alternate the one-way traffic through the area where the water undercut the road.

Click here for all current and upcoming forecasts on Utah's flooding and resources to protect your home.

Shaw said there was no estimate for when the damaged lane would reopen.

Before emergency repairs could start, UDOT had to coordinate with the operators of the dam at Pineview Reservoir to reduce the volume of water flowing into the river.

Crews then used heavy machinery to drop boulders into the cut-out section and build a temporary retaining wall.

Update: UDOT says one-lane of SR-39 in Ogden Canyon will open to general public at 8 p.m. (throughout the day only local residents were allowed).

Temporary traffic lights have been installed to alternate the one-way traffic in the area where the river undercut the road @KSL5TV… pic.twitter.com/eb3iBRpwJs

— Ladd Egan (@laddegan) May 12, 2023

The Utah Department of Transportation said crews were on site Thursday afternoon to evaluate the damage and determine the extent of repairs needed. The road is closed between the mouth of the canyon and Pineview Reservoir. Crews opened one lane to local traffic only around 2 p.m.

The South Fork of the Ogden River was in minor flood stage near Huntsville Thursday, with a National Weather Service report saying the river was at 4.95 feet. Minor flooding occurs in the area with the river between 4.6 and 5.5 feet. The river is expected to reach 5.26 feet in the coming days.

BREAKING: This view, just in, from Chopper 5 shows SR-39 up Ogden Canyon is currently closed! The Ogden River is undercutting the road and caused a partial collapse. We’ve got more on ⁦@KSL5TV⁩ at Noon, 5,6 and 10pm #utwx 🌊 pic.twitter.com/KuCi6djUnO

— Matthew Johnson (@KSL_Matt) May 11, 2023

A river flood advisory is now in effect for the Ogden River below Pineview Reservoir, where water levels were above 7 feet Thursday.

The Weber School District originally said Weber High School students who ride buses that usually go up Ogden Canyon would be taken home via Trappers Loop on Thursday.

However, the district worked out a new plan with the DOT.

"We are not going to have to reroute buses," Lane Findlay, spokesperson for Weber School District said. "The canyon is shut down to one lane and only open to local traffic. UDOT is going to allow access to our buses. We do anticipate there may be a few delays."

VIDEO: Crews work quickly to drop boulders into the road base of State Route 39 in Ogden Canyon.

The river undercut the road this morning. The HWY is only open one lane for local traffic only. @KSL5TV @kslnewsradio @KSLcom #Utah #utwx pic.twitter.com/akecuxnWeJ

— Ladd Egan (@laddegan) May 11, 2023