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UDOT clears Several feet of snow off S.R. 39

Posted at 8:05 PM, May 13, 2014
and last updated 2014-05-13 22:05:42-04

WEBER COUNTY, Utah -- For the next several days crews will be working to clear the Monte Cristo Summit, which is covered with several feet of powder.

"It takes a lot of time, a lot of man hours, a lot of equipment," said Brenden Thompson, worker with the Utah Department of Transportation.

Part of State Route 39 is closed throughout the winter, but during the summer it serves as a link between Evanston and Ogden.

UDOT is conducting a study to see whether it would be more practical to just keep the road open all year long.

"There is a cost of having people go through here all the time and make sure the road is passable. A storm can come through here, even when it's nice down in the valley and it can dump 2-3 feet of snow very quickly," said Vic Saunders, Region 1 spokesman for UDOT.

UDOT says it has to consider safety and the cost of operation before changing anything -- but it is possible UDOT will open the pass for a trial run to see if it's feasible to keep the road open all winter long.

This year the road is expected to open for Memorial Day weekend and will remain open through Thanksgiving.