A brushfire burning in Parleys Canyon created gridlock in Old Town Park City today.
Traffic this morning was backed up on Marsac Ave. when a semi truck got stuck trying to use Guardsman Pass to circumvent the fire, which has closed Interstate 80. The Parleys Fire has been reduced from 200 to 80 acres, but it’s still big enough to close the interstate that serves as the primary artery connecting Park City to the outside world.
Guardsman was closed to traffic until the truck could be extricated, but according to UDOT the road is now open excluding semis.
Update: Guardsman Pass Rd (SR-224) has reopened at MP 2 in Park City but remains CLOSED to SEMIS. Expect residual delays through the area. Check the UDOT Traffic App or @waze before travel. @UDOTRegionTwo @UtahTrucking @UDOTcottonwoods
— UDOT Traffic (@UDOTTRAFFIC) August 7, 2020
UDOT closed I-80 at 9 a.m. this morning between Foothill Drive in Salt Lake City and Jeremy Ranch in Summit County. It isn’t expected to reopen until 9 p.m. Friday for the safety of the firefighters working close to the interstate. Firefighting aircraft are also flying low over I-80, which is considered a danger to public safety.
While officials recommend alternate routes westward through Provo Canyon via Heber or Interstate 84 via Henefer, some drivers attempted to use Guardsman Pass, the narrow, steep mountain road that connects Park City and Big Cottonwood Canyon. Police were turning cars around at Empire Pass.
The fire in Parleys Canyon started Thursday night at about 6:30 p.m. and is suspected to be human-caused.
Authorities are looking for a dump truck dragging chains that reportedly drove through the canyon. Anyone with information about the truck can call investigators at 801-538-5418.
