PROVO CANYON — A large mudslide in Provo Canyon caused major headaches for commuters during the evening rush hour on Friday but left no injuries or damage to the road.
The slide occurred at about 3 p.m. near mile marker 14 on U-189, sending mud and debris across most of the road's four lanes.
"It sounds like it was fairly substantial," Utah Highway Patrol spokesman Jeff Nigbur said. "Most of the road was covered, and only a small portion was open for officers to allow traffic to pass."
UHP troopers took advantage of the narrow opening, directing traffic from both directions to take turns using the narrow pass so traffic could trickle through as crews cleaned up the mess.
The Utah Department of Transportation sent front-end loaders and dump trucks to clear the scene. Original estimates called for the road to be closed until at least 9 p.m., but the slide was not as bad as initially feared, and the road was cleared and reopened by 7 p.m.
U-189 serves as the direct link between Heber and Utah Valleys and has seen increased traffic as the two areas have grown in recent years. According to 2004 traffic maps from UDOT, more than 16,000 cars use the route each day.
E-mail: jtwitchell@desnews.com