Highway 140 entrance to Yosemite reopens

El Portal Road in Yosemite National Park, which was blocked by a rock slide Thursday morning, reopened Saturday.

The popular Highway 140 route into Yosemite Valley is open to all traffic, park officials said in a news release.

According to the statement, Yosemite National Park Rangers and road crews worked extended shifts to clear the rocks and debris from the road and make the road safe for travel.

Visitors are urged to drive with caution and watch for crews and equipment that may be present along the roadway. Hazards such as rocks and other debris also may be present, officials warned.

“I would like to thank our road crews, park rangers, and resources management and science staff for their hard work over these past several days,” said Don Neubacher, Yosemite National Park Superintendent, in the news release. “Their dedication to safely and quickly reopen the El Portal Road exemplifies our commitment to serving the many visitors coming to Yosemite National Park.”

There are currently chain restrictions in place on many roads within Yosemite National Park. Drivers must carry chains when entering a designated chain control area.

For the most current road conditions, call 209-372-0200. Press option “1” and then “1” again to go directly to the road conditions report.

This story was originally published January 9, 2016 at 4:03 PM with the headline "Highway 140 entrance to Yosemite reopens."