Avalanche Mitigation Under Way

Those traveling on highway 89 south of High School Road have been aware of activities involving a helicopter and some construction equipment on the east side of the road for the past month.  The Wyoming Department of Transportation says that project involves installing new snow structures on the hillside above the road to mitigate avalanche activity there.  WYDOT Engineer Bob Hammond says the $2.3-million project will continue into October.  Hammond says the technology for new snow-support structures being utilized there comes from Europe.  He says the snow sails that had been in place on the hillside were only about 30% effective.  Hammond says impacts of the project on Highway 89 traffic will be minimal; the department wants to let the public know what they are doing, especially when they see helicopters flying overhead.  He says occasionally there are people along the road, but mostly it is just a water truck and compressor parked there.  Hammond says as work continues, concrete barriers will also be set up to prevent any falling rock from reaching the road as further work on the project takes place.