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Alaska Department of Transportation and Public Facilities

THANE ROAD Avalanche Hazard Reduction
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Thane Road Avalanche Hazard Reduction and Closure Notices

March 4, 2026

Thane Road is now open at the avalanche gates as of 9 a.m., Wednesday, March 4. Motorists should be prepared for difficult road conditions until a plow can make it out to clear the area. DOT&PF has plans for a plow to be out on Thane Road today.

Please be advised that avalanche hazards remains elevated. Additional road closures are likely over the next few days as avalanche hazard increases with warming temperatures and additional snowfall. DOT&PF reminds all drivers DO NOT STOP or Park in the avalanche area for any reason.

March 3, 2026, 1 p.m.

Thane Road will be closed at the avalanche gates starting today, Tuesday, March 3, at 6 p.m. due to high avalanche hazard to the roadway.

This emergency closure will be re-evaluated at 6 a.m. on Wednesday, March 4.

If a natural avalanche reaches the roadway, DOT&PF may not be able to safely remove avalanche debris until conditions improve through mitigation work or a natural decrease in avalanche hazard.

March 3, 2026

PSA: INCREASING AVALANCHE HAZARD - THANE ROAD

Due to heavy and continuous snowfall and warming at higher elevations, avalanche hazard above Thane Road is rising rapidly.

Travelers: DOT&PF reminds you DO NOT STOP or Park in the avalanche zone. Your safety depends on moving through these zones without delay.

Thane Residents: Be advised that the road could close with limited notice. Please be prepared for a potential and extended closure. If a natural avalanche blocks the road, clearing operations will be delayed until weather conditions allow for safe mitigation. Residents should ensure they have sufficient supplies for a multi-day closure.

Please visit the CBJ emergency management site for personal and household preparedness details.

Here’s how DOT&PF will typically share information out to the Thane residents about potential road closures:

  1. Early notification typically uses the orange avalanche control signs on Thane Road.
    • If DOT&PF is planning an avalanche hazard reduction mission, we will try to have those signs updated as soon as we anticipate needing a mission.
    • So, the signs could be updated a day or two (as conditions allow) in advance of a mission.  
       
  2. The second notification goes out via a GovDelivery alert within 24 hours of a potential road closure.
    • Once the GovDelivery alert is sent, it is highly likely that a road closure/hazard reduction mission will occur.

By using the warning signs, DOT&PF can give Thane residents a heads up that a mission will likely occur. Once the GovDelivery alert is sent, a mission is planned and residents should expect a road closure.

Because the avalanche hazard mitigation work depend on changing snow conditions and weather, it’s possible that DOT&PF uses the signs or both signs and alerts, then calls off the mission.

DOT&PF recommends that all Thane residents sign up for GovDelivery alerts and share sign up info widely.

To subscribe to texts or emails about Thane Road avalanche hazard reduction work (including road closure notices):

Please contact DOT&PF with questions:

The Alaska Department of Transportation and Public Facilities oversees 237 airports, 10 ferries serving 35 communities, over 5,600 miles of highway and 776 public facilities throughout the state of Alaska. The mission of the department is to "Keep Alaska Moving."