State Route 120 (Tioga Pass), State Route 89 (Monitor Pass), and State Route 108 (Sonora Pass) are scheduled for temporary closure on Wednesday, October 21. These closures are being implemented due to an incoming storm expected to affect Mono County. The decision to close these routes aims to ensure public safety as weather conditions are projected to deteriorate.
Specific closure times have been announced for each pass, affecting travel throughout the day. State Route 120, known as Tioga Pass, will be closed at the Lee Vining gate. This closure will take effect later in the day, specifically at 5:00 pm on Wednesday, October 21. Travelers planning to use Tioga Pass should make alternative arrangements before this evening deadline.
State Route 89, which traverses Monitor Pass, will also be subject to a temporary closure. The Monitor Pass closure is slated for noon on Wednesday. Motorists intending to cross Monitor Pass should complete their travel by midday as the route will become inaccessible at that time.
State Route 108, or Sonora Pass, will be the first of the three routes to close. This pass will close earlier in the morning, at 8:00 am on Wednesday, October 21. The specific closure point for State Route 108 will be at the gate situated near the Marine Corps Mountain Warfare Training Center. Individuals planning morning travel through Sonora Pass must adjust their schedules accordingly.
These temporary closures are a coordinated effort between multiple agencies. Caltrans District 9 is managing the closures in conjunction with Caltrans District 10. Additionally, the California Highway Patrol is involved in this coordination, ensuring a unified approach to managing road safety during the storm event. This interagency collaboration facilitates the effective implementation of the closures and subsequent reopening procedures.
Following the passage of the storm, Caltrans District 9, Caltrans District 10, and the California Highway Patrol will collectively reassess the conditions of the affected roadways. The primary objective of this reassessment is to determine when it will be safe to reopen State Route 120, State Route 89, and State Route 108 to the traveling public. The agencies will work to reopen these routes as expeditiously as possible, but only once it is determined that conditions no longer pose a risk. Safety remains the paramount concern for all involved in the decision-making process for reopening.
Caltrans has issued a strong advisory to motorists concerning the approaching storm. The agency urges all drivers to be adequately prepared for the anticipated storm conditions. Furthermore, Caltrans emphasizes the importance of exercising extreme caution when traveling on roadways that may be impacted by the weather. A specific warning has been issued regarding the potential for icy road surfaces, which can present significant hazards to vehicles. Drivers should remain vigilant and adjust their driving habits to account for these dangerous conditions.
The temporary closures of State Route 120, State Route 89, and State Route 108 highlight the dynamic nature of mountain travel during this season. These proactive measures are put in place to protect the public from the dangers that adverse weather can bring to high-elevation routes. All travelers through Mono County are advised to remain informed about changing road conditions and to prioritize safety.
