Valdez – The Richardson Highway was pummeled with heavy snowfall last Monday and Tuesday. In addition to heavy snowfall, numerous natural avalanches and debris littering the roadway from milepost 12 to 65 on the Richardson prompted the Alaska Department of Transportation to close the Richardson Highway on Tuesday. DOT was able to open the road from milepost 12 to 19 on Wednesday, allowing Heidenview residents to return to their homes, but Milepost 19 to 65 was closed through Thursday afternoon.
KVAK’s Laurie Prax talked with the Foreman of the Thompson Pass DOT station, Edward Matson, following the road closure caused by natural avalanches on the Richardson Highway. Matson tells us what it was like for loader and equipment operators clearing avalanches in Thompson Pass. 294 inches of snow have already fallen in Thompson Pass and Matson said during the storm 51-inches of snow fell in a 48 hour period.
Matson said the crew cleared huge trees that toppled onto the roadway during the storm. Matson counted 76 rings on one of the tree trunks.
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