View this post on Instagram
With a joyous thumbs-up, the gate swung open at approximately 3:00 pm on Friday, May 12th, 2023, and SR-89 Monitor Pass is fully open from its seasonal closure.
May 12th is the latest opening of Monitor Pass in at least 19 years. In 2017 and 2020, the Sierra Pass reopened on May 8, the previous record.
Monitor Pass was in its seasonal closure for 155 days over the 2022/2023 winter season. That is the third-longest seasonal closure for the highway since 2004. The longest closure in recent years happened over the winter of 2016/2017 when the pass was closed for 159 days.
Monitor Pass is the first Sierra Pass to reopen in Mono County. State Route 108 (Sonora Pass) and Route 120 W to Yosemite remain closed as crews continue removing snow from the highways. State Route 158 N (North June Lake Loop) reopened from its closure last month.
Huge thanks to the brave crews in District 10 and @caltransd9, who worked safely and swiftly to reopen this vital route. Thank you also to Sinclair General Engineering Construction for their hard work in repairing a damaged section of SR-89 south of Markleeville that feeds to Monitor Pass.
For those who plan on driving it, be aware that Ebbetts Pass is still closed.
Before you travel this season, be sure to check quickmap.dot.ca.gov before you leave home. You can also download the Quickmap app to your iOS or Android device.
