A day after a section of State Road 39 through Ogden Canyon was washed away by the high-flowing Ogden River, the roadway is reopen — in part — to traffic.
For now, only one travel lane is open, and road crews are allowing traffic to pass through one way at a time, with a traffic signal to help direct drivers.
No time has been announced for when the road will fully reopen, according to the Utah Department of Transportation. But the Weber County Sheriff’s Office said officials will be monitoring the roadway’s conditions for the next “couple of days” before eventually opening it to two-way traffic.
The road was shut down Thursday because of erosion, according to the UDOT. The shoulder closest to the river, and part of a travel lane itself near milepost 9, had washed away, forcing the closure from the mouth of the canyon to Pineview Reservoir.
Crews continued to repair the road Friday.
Ogden Marathon questions
The planned route of the annual Ogden Marathon — scheduled for Saturday, May 20 — would take runners through the affected area of State Road 39. It’s unclear if the race will be impacted.
Organizers posted on social media that they will “share an official update late Monday afternoon with full details” for this year’s race after meeting with representatives from Weber County, Ogden City and UDOT.
They added that they are “optimistic” and working to develop contingency plans.
“Our top priority is the safety of our participants and the community,” wrote Eric Bauman, executive director/CEO of the GOAL Foundation, which sponsors the marathon.
(Weber County Sheriff's Office) State Road 39 through Ogden Canyon was shut down on Thursday, May 11, 2023, after the high flow of the Ogden River eroded a section of bank underneath the roadway.
