The Alaska Department of Transportation and Public Facilities has closed the Montana Creek Bridge to all vehicle traffic, including ATVs, as well as equestrian traffic, due to recent structural damage.
Recent weather events have made the bridge unsafe, according to the transportation department.
“They did an in-depth inspection and one of the suggestions from the bridge inspection team was to restrict it to pedestrian traffic,” said DOTPF spokesperson Sam Dapcevich. “There’s some debris and drift materials that have hit the piers. Some of the piers have shifted and the whole bridge has moved over.”
Pedestrian use of the bridge is still allowed, according to DOTPF, but that’s subject to change if the damage worsens. The department is monitoring the bridge on a daily basis during weather that could cause further damage, according to the news release.
“There’s potential it could have to be replaced,” Dapcevich said. “Right now, they’re evaluating if it can be repaired.”
The timeline for repair evaluations, as well as potential cost of a replacement, are unknown at this time.
• Contact reporter Michael S. Lockett at (757) 621-1197 or mlockett@juneauempire.com.
A line where the Montana Creek Bridge deviates from true, damaged by recent weather. (MIchael S. Lockett / Juneau Empire)
