(VALDEZ, Alaska) – The Richardson Highway from milepost 12 to 18 remains closed until further notice.

Alaska Department of Transportation and Public Facilities (ADOT&PF) staff successfully completed avalanche mitigation work in the Keystone Canyon area of the Richardson Highway. The risk of avalanche in the area has been reduced to moderate.

The water in the flooded area behind the Keystone Canyon avalanche continues to recede and is predominantly within the banks of the Lowe River. Crews have begun clearing ice and snow debris deposited on the highway from the receding waters. This will help the department continue to monitor water that may still be impounded by the avalanche, evaluate the condition of the roadway, and determine when crews may safely begin excavating the slide debris.

Motorists are advised to avoid the area and to respect all posted road closures. The public is not permitted past the avalanche gates.

The department will continue to post additional updates, press releases, images and video online at: dot.alaska.gov/richardsonavalanche

For further details and updates on road conditions, 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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