Avalanches disrupt highway traffic in Northwest Montana

HELENA (AP) — Multiple avalanches and the threat of more slides have disrupted highway traffic in northwestern Montana near the Idaho border.

Montana transportation officials said Thursday they shut down the westbound lanes of Interstate 90 for the 34 miles the highway snakes through mountainous terrain between St. Regis and the state line.

It’s unclear when the roadway will reopen. The eastbound lanes were closed earlier Thursday due to a crash involving multiple semi-trucks, but they have re-opened.

Multiple avalanches fell west of St. Regis on Wednesday. Officials say highway workers removed the snow and debris on Thursday, but several minor slides have happened since then and there are unstable areas that could lead to more slides.

Westbound traffic is being re-routed to Montana Highway 200 from St. Regis.