Update: Kingsbury Grade, I-80 reopened

A rock slide through Wilson Canyon between Smith and Mason valleys is closed by a rock slide. Nevada Department of Transportation photo

As of lunchtime Wednesday, Kingsbury Grade and Interstate 80 have reopened.

Traffic is still backed up at Echo Summit and Highway 88 is closed.

The closure of all three roads through the mountains Tuesday night led to a delay in picking up The Record-Courier customers.

Highway 395 remains closed between Bridgeport and Mammoth Lakes.

State officials say a rock slide that shut down Highway 208 between Smith and Mason valleys will be closed indefinitely.

“Possibly triggered by recent heavy rainfall, a landslide and rockfall fell approximately 400 feet of the road between pillars 14 and 15 around 6:00 p.m. on January 10,” local officials said. There are currently no immediate reports of injuries as part of the landslide. The road is closed to traffic between Hudson Aurora Road and State Route 339, a portion of the road that runs through Wilson Canyon between Smith Valley and Yerington. Approximately 1,800 drivers travel through the area each day.”

Previous history

A winter storm is making getting around Western Nevada even more treacherous as all three roads through the passes are closed, along with Kingsbury Grade and Highway 208 through Wilson Canyon.

A fifth-wheel loader was jackknifed about halfway in Kingsbury around 5 p.m., but slick conditions and a report of rocks on the road ensured it wouldn’t reopen after significant snow fell on top of Daggett Summit.

A rock slide closed Wilson Canyon where the Walker River flows from Smith to Mason Valleys.

Interstate 80 is closed from the state line to Colfax while Highway 88 is closed from the Pickett intersection in Hope Valley to Kit Carson Road.

The California Department of Transportation is holding up traffic on Echo Summit, according to nvroads.com

Highway 395 from Bridgeport south due to heavy snow, wind and whiteout conditions between Gorge Road, 13 miles north of Bishop and Bridgeport.

Closer to home, emergency personnel responded to a rollover at the bottom of Jake’s Hill on Highway 395.

Buckeye Road near the former Bently Biofuels station reopened around 5 p.m. after high water closed it Monday night.

Water was still flowing over the road at 10am on Tuesday.

The National Weather Service warned that wet roads could turn to ice overnight with an increased threat of slick conditions during the evening and Wednesday morning commutes.

Previous history

Buckeye Road remained closed at 10 a.m. Tuesday after floodwaters not only overtopped it, but spilled into Minden’s maintenance yard.

The snowstorm pulled county commissioners from their meetings to appoint new board members both today and Wednesday.

Douglas County made some progress in opening roads, such as Centerville Lane west of the roundabout.

“Persistent snowfall will continue to produce areas of near zero visibility and rapid accumulations of 1 to 2 inches across Western Nevada,” according to a special statement issued by the National Weather Service at 12:25 p.m. . long with periods of light to moderate snow until the early hours of the evening. The snowfall will also result in variable road conditions across the region, especially with cloud cover limiting sun exposure on warm roads or melting snow. Wet roads could turn icy overnight with an increased threat of slick conditions during the evening and Wednesday morning commutes.”

At 1:25 p.m., Gov. Joe Lombardo ordered the closure of state offices across Western Nevada, beginning at 3 p.m. This order does not affect essential public safety or correctional personnel.

Snow chains or tires were required on most roads in western Nevada as snow continued to fall into the morning. This included Highway 395 from Carson south to Topaz Lake and Highway 88 south to the Nevada state line.

The Nevada Highway Patrol reported assisting motorists on Highway 50 near Glenbrook and Highway 395 in the Pine Nut Mountains.

At 10:43 a.m., an 18-wheeler was reported stuck on Highway 395 near Jake’s Hill after losing its chains. The major road was blocking the highway.

Anyone successfully navigating Highway 88 in Hope Valley would find that 88 is closed from the Pickett Junction to Kirkwood.

Highway 395 was still closed south of Bridgeport for nearly Bishop Tuesday morning.

Highway 6 was reopened today at 02:50. The freeway is the major detour around the closure on US 395 for vehicles traveling to Bridgeport, Carson City and Reno. State Route 168 E reopened this morning at 9:54 a.m. with R2 chain control restrictions in effect.

The California Highway Patrol reported that snow was coming up at an inch per hour with several semis stuck near the Ag Station. At one point it was reported that 30-40 trucks were blocked.