Dozens of I-15 travelers flock to shelters

BOZEMAN — Dozens of travelers flocked to shelters opened along Interstate 15 after the roadway was closed Thursday from south of Dillon to the Idaho border because of blizzard conditions.

The American Red Cross of Montana says more than 50 people registered at a shelter set up at the University of Montana-Western campus, where a line formed out the door late Thursday.

More than 40 stranded travelers were at a second shelter opened by the Lima Volunteer Fire Department.

The Montana Department of Transportation closed the interstate because of blizzard conditions over Monida Pass and into Idaho. The Idaho State Police closed I-15 from Duboise north to Monida Pass because blowing and drifting snow dropped visibility down to zero.

The interstate at Monida Pass in Idaho and Montana remained closed early Friday.