Avalanche shuts down Interstate 90

HAUGAN – On Monday, March 3, both directions of Interstate 90 were shut down after an avalanche blocked the interstate. Montana Highway Patrol Sergeant Roman Zylawy said the snow hit west of Haugan around mile marker 13.

 “It was a cut into the mountain to make the highway go there,” Zylawy said. “There is no vegetation or trees to hold the snow there.”

The interstate was shut down indefinitely. 

Zylawy said there was still snow on the slope, which was in danger of falling. Road crews were working to trigger the rest of the snow before they began clean up efforts and reopened the road. Zylawy said the cleanup would not take long and the big delay was triggering the avalanche safely.

There were no injuries and the slide does not appear to be human caused.

Zylawy said the highway department was looking into possible changes to make the area safer and reduce the risk of future avalanches.

“They have a couple avalanche specialists who can survey the area to find a better way to run the highway,” Zylawy said.