A pair of rockslide on Douglas Highway cut traffic while Department of Transportation and Public Facilities personnel cleared debris. DOT&PF geologists are still monitoring the site. (Courtesy photo / DOT&PF)

A pair of rockslide on Douglas Highway cut traffic while Department of Transportation and Public Facilities personnel cleared debris. DOT&PF geologists are still monitoring the site. (Courtesy photo / DOT&PF)

Road remains closed as DOT monitors rockslide site

It’s been reopened for local or emergency traffic, but geologists are monitoring the slide site for further activity.

Both lanes are cleared as of Tuesday afternoon, but Douglas Highway will remain closed at the North Douglas site of a pair of rockslides while Department of Transportation and Public Facilities personnel monitor the hillside.

Emergency and local traffic may use the road as needed, said DOTPF spokesperson Sam Dapcevich in an email.

“Our team has been making observations with a drone as weather conditions allow, and are looking closely at the area where the rockfall originated, which is approximately 500’ up the hillside,” Dapcevich said.

[Senate passes comprehensive reading bill]

There were two slides, the first occurring on April 6, Dapcevich said.

Department of Transportation and Public Facilities personnel clear rockslide debris from Douglas Highway on April 6, 2022. (Courtesy photo / Alana Davis)

Department of Transportation and Public Facilities personnel clear rockslide debris from Douglas Highway on April 6, 2022. (Courtesy photo / Alana Davis)

“The evening of April 6, approximately 500 cubic yards of material fell to the road from a cliff about 500’ up the hillside. DOT&PF cleaned up the slide and reopened the highway,” Dapcevich said. “The afternoon of April 10, a second slide took place with approximately double the quantity of material reaching the road with some boulders bouncing over the guardrail and landing on the beach or in the water. Some of the boulders were car sized.”

The slides may have been triggered by high winds, Dapcevich said. The road will reopen fully when the department has a better feel for the risk of further landslides, Dapcevich said.

Car-sized rocks were among the debris from an April 10 slide that cut the Douglas Highway off. Department of Transportation and Public Facilities geologists are still monitoring the site. (Courtesy photo / DOT&PF)

Car-sized rocks were among the debris from an April 10 slide that cut the Douglas Highway off. Department of Transportation and Public Facilities geologists are still monitoring the site. (Courtesy photo / DOT&PF)

“I believe it was very windy during both slide events, and there are many tree roots exposed that appear to have grown into rock crevices,” Dapcevich said. “Both lanes have been cleared, but the road remains closed until our geologists can better assess the risk.”

• Contact reporter Michael S. Lockett at 757-621-1197 or mlockett@juneauempire.com.

More in News

The Norwegian Cruise Line’s Norwegian Encore docks in Juneau in October, 2022. (Clarise Larson / Juneau Empire File)
Ships in Port for t​​he Week of Sept. 17

Here’s what to expect this week.

A rainbow appears over downtown as residents check out rows of electric vehicles at Juneau’s EV E-bike Roundup Saturday afternoon. (Clarise Larson / Juneau Empire)
Capital city celebrates 10th annual Juneau EV and E-bike Roundup

Juneau’s electric vehicle growth among fastest in the country, organizers say.

U.S. Sen. Dan Sullivan, R-Alaska, gives a live speech via video from Washington, D.C., to attendees at the annual Southeast Conference meeting in Sitka on Thursday. (Screenshot from video by Southeast Conference)
Murkowski, Sullivan warn of domestic, foreign threats to Southeast Alaska’s economy

Issues from Russian seafood imports to ferry funding cited by senators during Southeast Conference.

(Michael Penn / Juneau Empire File)
Police calls for Thursday, Sept. 21, 2023

This report contains public information from law enforcement and public safety agencies.

This is a photo of Juneau International Airport. (Clarise Larson / Juneau Empire File)
Email threat to Alaska airports doesn’t appear credible, police say

Heightened presence of officers at Juneau airport planned Friday.

A 2023 municipal election ballot is placed in the drop box at Douglas Library/Fire Hall Community Building. (Clarise Larson / Juneau Empire File)
Number of residents registered to vote ‘nearly identical’ to last year

More than 1,100 ballots counted so far during this municipal election.

Samantha Crain, of the Choctaw Nation, sings to the crowd during a performance Thursday night as part of the Áak’w Rock music festival at Centennial Hall. (Clarise Larson / Juneau Empire)
‘It’s pure resiliency’: Áak’w Rock kicks off

The three-day Indigenous music festival attracts full crowds during its first night.

U.S. Sen. Dan Sullivan, R-Alaska, walks down a hallway Tuesday, Feb. 7, 2023, at the Alaska State Capitol. (James Brooks/Alaska Beacon)
With Alaska’s federal judge vacancy nearing 2-year mark, Sullivan breaks from nomination tradition

Murkowski appears skeptical about the switch, saying she’s prepared to advance nominees to Biden

Jordan Creek flows over a portion of a footbridge behind a shopping center Thursday evening. The National Weather Service has issued a flood warning for Jordan Creek, Montana Creek and Auke Lake until 10 a.m. Friday. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire)
Flood warning for Jordan Creek, Montana Creek and Auke Lake issued until 10 a.m. Friday

Glacier Highway, structures near Jordan Creek may inundated, according to National Weather Service.

Most Read