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ALASKA DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION & PUBLIC FACILITIES
Northern Region
DALTON HIGHWAY FLOODING SITUATION REPORT (SITREP)
SITREP #: 19
The road is open to 24-hour commercial and private vehicle traffic. Restrictions remain in
effect for loads wider than 12 feet, and pilot cars are still running from Mile 399 to Mile
403. High water beside the berms continues to slow efforts to open more of the roadway
to two-lane traffic, but we are taking steps to widen the section between Miles 402 and
403 starting Monday. Widening Mile 400-401 is delayed until the water behind the berm
by the road subsides. We are coordinating with the Alaska Trucking Association to
compile a list of critical loads greater than 12 feet that need to go through the work zone
and will work on a case-by-case basis to try to accommodate as many of the loads as the
road can. Crews continue to expand trenches. Low boys and double drop trailers are
allowed. Chains for commercial vehicles are recommended but not mandatory. Transit
time through the work zone has improved to about 15-20 minutes on average, dependent
on weather and water levels. From midnight to 4 p.m. today, 96 vehicles transited the
work zone. Road continues to be maintained throughout the day between north- and
southbound convoys. UIC remains active with regular meetings. Spring breakup
monitoring and contingency planning continues.
Time/Date of SITREP: 19 April, 7 p.m.
Time/Date of next SITREP: 20 April p.m.
Current weather
Mostly cloudy. Areas of blowing snow reducing visibility to one half mile or less at times in
the evening. Lows 5 to 15 above. Southeast winds 15 to 30 mph with gusts to around 45
mph.
Forecast weather
Becoming mostly sunny. Highs in the 20s. South winds to 10 mph.
Communications: DOT&PF weblink: http://dot.alaska.gov/nreg/dalton-updates/;
DOT&PF Facebook link: https://www.facebook.com/AlaskaDOTPF
Response activity participating agencies and roles: (No Change) DOTPF have contracted
with both Nanuq-AFC and Cruz Construction to help support efforts to mitigate the flooding.
Both contractors will use their equipment to work the river channel in an attempt to divert
Meadow Bailey, 907-451-2240
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water away from the highway. A Unified Incident Command System involving the State and
Industry has been formed and the IMT is standing up.
Response Plan Summary
General
• Road remains in good condition and open to traffic 24 hours a day.
• We continue to see more water in the trenches, overflow in areas beside the roadway
and water seeping through the berms onto the highway; however, the deepest water
on the road today was only a few inches.
• Loads up to but not in excess of 12 feet wide are still allowed. Crews are continuing
to push back the berms in an effort to open the roadway to wider loads. Water behind
the berms is slowing progress on this. Steps are being taken to widen the section of
roadway between Mile 402 and 403 starting Monday. We can’t widen Mile 400-401
until water levels decrease; the berm is holding back an incredible amount of water.
We are creating a new trench to help divert some of this water.
• We are also coordinating with the Alaska Trucking Association to compile a list of
critical loads greater than 12 feet that need to go through the work zone and will
work on a case-by-case basis to accommodate as many of these as the road will
allow.
• Transit time has improved to 15-20 minutes on average, dependent on weather and
water conditions.
• Maintenance staff is on the road 24 hours a day. Today’s work focused on clearing
drifts and patching up areas of water.
• Aerial sanding operations were put on hold again today because of wind. This effort is
more than halfway complete, with only about 10-12 loads remaining.
• Daily 8 a.m. Command and General Staff meetings continue to be held at the Unified
Incident Command Center and via teleconference.
• Nightly community meetings still being held at 5.
• SITREPs will continue nightly.
• Press releases will be issued as needed.
• UIC is still active.
Next day plan of action
• We will discuss the Sag River overflow with a breakup forecaster at the 8 a.m.
meeting tomorrow.
• We will compile the list of critical wide loads and start analyzing the possibility of
accommodating these.
• Crews will continue to expand trenches and compact berms.
Contractor operations
Meadow Bailey, 907-451-2240
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• Expanding trenches and reopening trenches that have frozen over or have stopped
up from drifting snow
• Aerial sanding, as weather permits
DOT operations
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Piloting for convoys
Maintaining the roadway
Crews are sloping berms to help reduce drifting snow this weekend.
Deadhorse Airport will return to standard operating hours Monday, which are 6 a.m.
to 5:30 p.m. and regularly scheduled late flights.
Long-term planning
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Crews continue to fortify berms ahead of breakup.
Region is making available resources to convey water across the roadway.
We’re coordinating with the state and Alyeska hydrologists. We plan to bring the state
hydrologist up next week to review current river diversion operations.
We will continue spring monitoring of the Sag River and will make sure National
Weather Service includes the river in their breakup forecast.
The decisions being made now, such as the trenching and the aerial sanding, are
taking future breakup into account and will help with it.
UIC is still operating, including ongoing conversations and information sharing.
Meadow Bailey, 907-451-2240
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