(VALDEZ, Alaska) –The Richardson Highway from milepost 12 to 64 will remain closed through Sunday afternoon due to multiple avalanches blocking the roadway.
Current weather conditions and unstable snowpack present an extreme danger on the highway. Alaska Department of Transportation and Public Facilities (ADOT&PF) maintenance crews must allow the wet, heavy snow to stabilize before the slide debris can be safely cleared from the roadway. Additional avalanche mitigation work will also be necessary before the highway can be reopened to motorists.

For further details and updates, please visit 511.alaska.gov, dial 5-1-1, or check for 511 updates on Facebook and Twitter. ADOT&PF reminds drivers to exercise extreme caution if traveling through mountain passes in this region as there is an increased possibility for more avalanches to occur and to be aware of flaggers and heavy equipment in the roadway.

The Alaska Department of Transportation and Public Facilities oversees 237 airports, 9 ferries serving 35 communities along 3,500 marine miles, over 5,600 miles of highway and 839 public facilities throughout the state of Alaska. The mission of the department is to “Keep Alaska Moving through service and infrastructure.”

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