I-90 closure from Bozeman to Livingston due to heavy snow requires Search and Rescue support
EBS STAFF
On Tuesday, at 10:48 p.m., the Montana Department of Transportation notified Gallatin County 911 that chains were required on Bozeman Pass, part of the stretch of I-90 between Bozeman and Livingston, due to heavy snow. According to a May 8 press release from Gallatin County Sheriff’s Office, road conditions deteriorated over the night, leading to multiple vehicles becoming stuck.
Throughout the day on Wednesday, May 8, Montana Highway Patrol had units on the pass. Traffic in the morning led to more vehicles getting stuck and experiencing mechanical issues. The Sheriff’s Office mobilized Search and Rescue teams by noon on Wednesday to assist motorists stuck along the route. MHP and MDT could not clear the road due to continued blockage.
“It is estimated that several hundred vehicles were stranded on the pass,” the release stated. No injuries were reported as of 8 p.m. Wednesday, according to the release.
A Wednesday press release from Gallatin County called it a “historic blockage.”
“Sheriff Dan Springer would like to remind motorists to carry water, food, and blankets in case they become stranded,” the release stated. Gallatin County Emergency Management, Fort Ellis Fire Department, Bozeman Police Department and Belgrade Police Department assisted MDT and MHP during this incident.
By 10:30 p.m. on Wednesday, about 24 hours after the notification to use chains on the section of I-90, both lanes reopened, a follow-up release stated.
