Well, let's explain it to you.  DOT has three options: 1.  Close the road when risk increases and howitzer/shooting/heli bombing cannot be done.  2.  Limit and space traffic during those times to reduce the number of potentially caught.  3.  Close, shoot, re-open.  When overnight storm cycles increase the danger, and mitigation work cannot be done due to lack of light, then the protections and controls must also increase.  See # 1 or 2.  They slipped.  The increasing danger was more than they anticipated, and vehicles got hit. It was a bad gamble. So, if the persons inside the tanker had died, would you then blame DOT?  They have the duty to protect the roads under Alaska Statute and Administrative Code.  Oh- I have a Level 3 Avy Cert.  One of a handful of Alaskans that possess that Avalanche Certification. Hope that helps.