Heavy snow leaves Seward Highway impassable in places south of Turnagain Pass, troopers warn
Nov. 9—The Seward Highway was closed early Thursday from near Summit Lake through Moose Pass to Crown Point, and heavy snow was making it impassable in places from Seward to the Hope Cutoff, the Alaska Department of Transportation said.
Deep snow covered the road and disabled vehicles added to the hazardous conditions, Alaska State Troopers said. DOT crews from Portage and Crown Point were working to clear the highway, troopers said.
The DOT urged people to travel only for emergencies.
Closer to Valdez, the Richardson Highway was closed at Mile 55 through Thompson Pass due to heavy snow mixed with rain, the department said.
The transportation department warned of hazardous or difficult driving conditions Thursday across Southcentral Alaska. Snow ranged from 7 to 22 inches across the region, troopers said.
Conditions along parts of the Sterling, Glenn and Parks highways were described by DOT as difficult early Thursday, with an ice glaze and packed snow reported in some areas and blowing, drifting and deep snow in others. The north end of the Sterling Highway had received more than 2 feet of snow by Thursday morning, according to troopers.
Heavy snow started Wednesday afternoon through much of Southcentral Alaska, prompting most schools in the region to close or shift to remote learning Thursday.
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