Anchorage

Glenn Highway outbound reopens but drivers can still expect delays

Outbound lanes of the Glenn Highway were open again Saturday afternoon following a closure between the South Birchwood and North Birchwood exits that lasted roughly two hours, an Anchorage Police Department spokesman said.

Though lanes are "technically reopened," drivers can still expect periodic lane shutdowns on the highway heading out of Anchorage as police continue to clean up accidents there, said spokesman MJ Thim.

There were about 15 incidents reported in the area between about 2:30 p.m. and 4:30 p.m., including minor crashes and collisions and vehicles in distress as a result of icy, snowy conditions, he said.

"In that specific area on the Glenn in both directions, we expect that conditions are going to be hazardous for the next several hours," Thim said. "There's a little bit more traffic headed outbound as Iditarod officials and teams make their preparations to head out to Willow."

There have been no serious injuries, Thim said. Police are asking people to avoid using the Glenn Highway in that area if they can.

All outbound lanes of the Glenn Highway were shut down between the South Birchwood and North Birchwood exits as of 2:51 p.m. on Saturday, the Anchorage Police Department said in an advisory. They reopened around 4:30 p.m.

Just before 2:30 p.m. on Saturday afternoon, another police advisory warned of dangerous driving conditions on the Glenn, including blowing snow and icy roads.

"They're opening and closing them as they can," said Kathy Pefley, who works in the police department's 911 call center. "They get one opened and then another accident happens."

Annie Zak

Annie Zak was a business reporter for the ADN between 2015 and 2019.

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