Brief Mt. Rose Highway traffic delays as avalanche control system replaced Monday

Brief traffic stoppages and delays will take place Monday, Nov. 13 at the Mt. Rose Highway (State Route 431) summit as the Nevada Department of Transportation replaces an aging avalanche control system.

Brief traffic stoppages will take place on Nov. 13 between 7 a.m.-5 p.m. near the Mt. Rose Summit Visitors Welcome Center. While the majority of traffic stoppages will be brief, traffic delays could last up to 30 minutes as a helicopter delivers roofing components as part of the final construction of the project. The traffic closure schedule is subject to change.

Since 1992, NDOT has housed a remote-controlled avalanche control system near the summit of Mt. Rose Highway. This fall, NDOT is installing a new avalanche control system to replace the aging system that has served the highway for decades. The new system will use advanced avalanche control technologies to further ensure the safety and connectivity of highway travelers.

When snow builds up, NDOT briefly stops traffic and activates the system to send shock waves that shake loose snow toward the highway. NDOT plow operators then remove the snow and safely reopen the road. These controlled releases of snow can help prevent the unpredictable and potentially dangerous snow slides that could bury vehicles and motorists on the highway.