State Route 153 through Beaver Canyon has been closed indefinitely after flooding on Sunday washed out the roadway and left debris throughout multiple areas in Beaver County.
The Utah Department of Transportation is assessing extensive damage as additional storms threaten to cause further destruction. According to a UDOT statement, a hard closure begins near milepost 7.5 east of Beaver, where debris has completely blocked the highway.
The most severe damage is concentrated between mileposts 7.5 and 10.5, with multiple sections of road destroyed within that three-mile stretch. Near milepost 14, floodwater undercut the highway and washed approximately half of the roadway into the river.
UDOT surveyors and engineers are assessing the corridor from both the air and the ground as conditions allow. The department is developing a repair plan in coordination with Beaver County, Beaver City, public-safety agencies, Eagle Point Resort, and other partners.
The risk of flash flooding and debris flows is increased by the burn scar left by the Cottonwood Fire. UDOT Region 4 Deputy Director Jared Beard stated that if another storm occurs, water and debris could come down the canyon again to cause additional damage.
Beard noted that afternoon thunderstorms have been occurring and that neither side of the mountain is currently considered safe. While crews are monitoring the weather, the priority remains protecting I-15 and Beaver’s Main Street, which serve as primary evacuation routes for the community.
Motorists and property owners are advised not to attempt to enter the closed area from either side of the mountain. Access from the U.S. 89 side is not currently considered safe while crews evaluate conditions.
Additional thunderstorms are expected during the coming week. Travelers must obey all closure signs and instructions from law enforcement and emergency personnel.
