(ANCHORAGE, Alaska) – The Alaska Department of Transportation and Public Facilities (DOT&PF) announced that continued rains and related flooding have necessitated the restriction of traffic at Milepost 3 of the Seward Highway and that other Seward area roads and facilities have been heavily impacted.

Seward Highway – Flood waters began over-topping the Seward Highway Wednesday afternoon causing traffic restrictions at MP 3.5 where DOT&PF established a traffic control point to assist travelers with safe passage. Currently, the highway remains open to larger vehicles but is closed to smaller passenger vehicles at the 3.5 mile mark. Further north, DOT&PF has established a control and information point at MP 8 of the Seward Highway to inform southbound travelers of the prevailing conditions.

Seward Airport – The airport remains open, however, flood waters have encroached upon one of the airport’s two runways, forcing DOT&PF to close that runway.

Nash Road – Flood waters have washed out a large culvert at approximately MP 3.5 of Nash Road in Seward. As such, Nash Road is closed at this point. Flood waters also are impacting Nash Road from MP 0.2 to 0.5 with waters over-topping the pavement.

Exit Glacier Road – ADOT&PF has closed the roadway at MP 2.8 due to flooding conditions.

These highway closures and restrictions will extend until such time as the rains abate, run-off subsides and a safe condition can be once again established. The timing of this sequence is now uncertain.

DOT&PF also announced that a large landslide at Chenega Bay is blocking access from the village to the airport and that Hatcher Pass Road in the Mat-Su Valley has washed out at Shorty Creek, MP 26.

Concerns about flooding and potential transportation interruptions are widespread throughout DOT&PF’s Central Region. DOT&PF is keeping close watch on the Sterling Highway south of Anchor Point and stream crossings along the Parks Highway in the Susitna valley. DOT&PF is proactively staging equipment and conducting round the clock monitoring of the rapidly changing conditions. Personnel and equipment from unaffected areas will be relocated as necessary to address changing conditions.  

DOT&PF advises to avoid driving if at all possible. If required, drivers can expect sometimes difficult driving conditions, and are advised further to drive cautiously and at reduced speeds. Travelers can expect to encounter road crews and public safety vehicles, and should exercise caution.

Updates on road conditions can be found at the 511.alaska.gov website or by dialing 511 on your telephone. Further new updates will follow this as additional information is available.

The Alaska Department of Transportation and Public Facilities oversees 255 airports, 11 ferries serving 35 communities, 5,619 miles of highway and 720 public facilities throughout the state of Alaska. The mission of the department is to “Get Alaska Moving through service and infrastructure.”

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