This 2015 file photo for illustration shows traffic backed up on Interstate 15 in the Virgin River Gorge, Arizona, March 12, 2015 | Photo by Kimberly Scott, St. George News
UPDATE 9:58 a.m. – Interstate 15 through the Virgin River Gorge is all clear at this time, Sgt. Bottoms said. The traffic backup is cleared.
UPDATE: 9:06 a.m. – Both northbound traffic lanes are open and traffic is beginning to roll, Sgt. Bottoms said. However, troopers report having trouble awaking truck drivers and some truck drivers are having trouble getting their trucks started, he added.
UPDATE: 8:15 a.m. – “One traffic lane is open, traffic is slowly getting by,” Sgt. Bottoms said, adding that it will take some time for the backed up traffic to clear out.
VIRGIN RIVER GORGE, Ariz. – Both northbound lanes of Interstate 15 through the Virgin River Gorge in Arizona are blocked. Arizona Department of Public Safety’s Highway Patrol Division advises motorists use alternate route.
DPS Sgt. John T. Bottoms issued a text alert at about 6:45 a.m. advising a collision involving a large box truck is blocking both northbound lanes through the gorge.
“An alternate route around the Virgin River Gorge is strongly suggested,” he said.
Alternate route
Motorists may use Highway 91 as an alternate route. The highway bypasses the gorge entirely, intersecting with I-15 at Exit 8 in Littlefield, Arizona, to the south and connecting to St. George at the north via Santa Clara and Sunset Boulevard. See map included with this report.
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A collision involving a box truck blocks northbound lanes on Interstate 15 through the Virgin River Gorge in Arizona Thursday morning, Nov. 10, 2016 | Photo courtesy of Arizona Department of Public Safety, St. George News
A collision involving a box truck blocks northbound lanes on Interstate 15 through the Virgin River Gorge in Arizona Thursday morning, Nov. 10, 2016 | Photo courtesy of Arizona Department of Public Safety, St. George News
A collision involving a box truck blocks northbound lanes on Interstate 15 through the Virgin River Gorge in Arizona Thursday morning, Nov. 10, 2016 | Photo courtesy of Arizona Department of Public Safety, St. George News
A collision involving a box truck blocks northbound lanes on Interstate 15 through the Virgin River Gorge in Arizona Thursday morning, Nov. 10, 2016 | Photo courtesy of Arizona Department of Public Safety, St. George News
Copyright St. George News, SaintGeorgeUtah.com LLC, 2016, all rights reserved.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Joyce Kuzmanic has been editor in chief of St. George News since 2012, having contributed as a reporter and assistant editor since the publication's inception in 2010. Before St. George News, Joyce has been a private business owner and enjoyed a long career as a paralegal in real estate, business and tax law transactions.
She enjoys hospitality, thinking, reading and adventuring in the great outdoors. Joyce currently resides in St. George with her husband and her dog, Scratch.
At 3 pm today there was another accident 1 mile ahead going north after the ret 91 beaver exit watch out, I was lucky I always go the backroad for 6 yrs, won,t go thru the gorge again
maybe they should have an exorcism for the evil demons that dwell in the gorge. that would mean RealLowlife would be driven out from the gorge but I doubt anybody would actually care
I don’t travel through the gorge I have my chauffeur take me to the airport and I fly on my private jet to Vegas for the day. I don’t have a job because I don’t have to work for a living.
At 3 pm today there was another accident 1 mile ahead going north after the ret 91 beaver exit watch out, I was lucky I always go the backroad for 6 yrs, won,t go thru the gorge again
The wall of death in the gorge is scary
maybe they should have an exorcism for the evil demons that dwell in the gorge. that would mean RealLowlife would be driven out from the gorge but I doubt anybody would actually care
I don’t travel through the gorge I have my chauffeur take me to the airport and I fly on my private jet to Vegas for the day. I don’t have a job because I don’t have to work for a living.
Congratulations President Donald Trump !
come on RealLowlife ! LOL I posted that one especially for you ! ha ha ha ha ha now that’s some funny stuff right there !