Alaska News

Richardson Highway landslide near Paxson likely caused by broken beaver dam, DOT says

An approximately 500-foot-wide landslide caused delays on the Richardson Highway near Paxson Lake on Thursday afternoon and evening.

The Mile 187 slide occurred at roughly 2 p.m. north of the lake and south of the nearby Gulkana Hatchery and the debris was nearly 6 feet high, said Danielle Tessen, spokesperson with the Alaska Department of Transportation and Public Facilities, in an email.

The landslide likely occurred due to a beaver dam that broke, “forcing a large amount of water to washout downhill from the beaver pond,” DOT said on Facebook.

#RichardsonHighway update: One lane of traffic is now open with two loaders continuing to remove debris from the other...

Posted by Alaska Department of Transportation & Public Facilities on Thursday, July 1, 2021

The road was initially impassable at first, but two loaders were removing debris, Tessen said. The highway opened one lane to traffic around 4 p.m. and had opened a second lane by late Thursday night.

Crews were expected to work through Friday. Drivers could expect 20-minute pilot car delays.

ADVERTISEMENT