Anchorage

Morning commute on Glenn Highway expected to return to normal on Monday

"Bridgepocalypse" begone.

The southbound Glenn Highway at Eagle River is expected to be reopened in time for Monday morning's commute into Anchorage.

"That is our best estimate," Alaska Department of Transportation and Public Facilities spokeswoman Shannon McCarthy said Friday. "And that is our goal."

Unprecedented gridlock on Thursday's morning commute followed Wednesday's closure of southbound lanes by a load that hit the south Eagle River overpass.

Reduced traffic Friday morning and a new detour largely on the main highway instead of through Eagle River made for a far more pleasant drive from Mat-Su.

More than a third fewer drivers from Mat-Su crossed the Glenn Highway at Eklutna on Friday than usual, according to DOT statistics. Chugiak and Eagle River schools were closed, and the state told executive branch workers living in Eagle River or north to stay home.

All the mess on Thursday's highway drive resulted in about 2,500 fewer drivers between Mat-Su and Eagle River from 1 a.m. to 8 a.m. Friday, according to Matt Murphy, the acting highway data manager in DOT's Anchorage field office.

ADVERTISEMENT

Traffic at the Eklutna Flats showed a 38 percent decrease over comparable Fridays, Murphy found.

An emergency $1.8 million repair job was just starting Friday at the Artillery Road bridge as Gov. Bill Walker visited the overpass just before noon.

Contractor Sandstrom & Sons Inc. moved two of three cranes into place, McCarthy said Friday. The bridge, part of which is still open to traffic, was expected to be closed periodically Saturday so crews could position an excavator atop the overpass.

Bighorn Enterprises LLC, the Fairbanks trucking company hauling the modular unit that hit the overpass, apologized for the delays Thursday and blamed a customer.

The company obtained a $225 state oversize permit to haul the modular unit — part of a larger man camp — from Wasilla to Seward's freight dock.

The permit called for a maximum speed of 45 mph and barred travel in the "Anchorage urban area" during particularly congested drive times from 7 a.m. until 8 a.m. and 4:30 p.m. until 6 p.m.

It allowed for a unit up to 85 feet long, width up to 10 feet 6 inches, and height up to 17 feet.

The clearance of the overpass the load crashed into was nearly 19 feet.

The Department of Transportation is investigating the cause of the accident and whether Bighorn will face penalties. The state is also likely to file an insurance claim for the damage.

Zaz Hollander

Zaz Hollander is a veteran journalist based in the Mat-Su and is currently an ADN local news editor and reporter. She covers breaking news, the Mat-Su region, aviation and general assignments. Contact her at zhollander@adn.com.

ADVERTISEMENT