Richardson Highway landslide near Paxson likely caused by broken beaver dam, DOT says

An approximately 500-foot-wide landslide caused delays on the Richardson Highway near Paxson Lake on Thursday afternoon and evening.

The Mile 187 slide occurred at roughly 2 p.m. north of the lake and south of the nearby Gulkana Hatchery and the debris was nearly 6 feet high, said Danielle Tessen, spokesperson with the Alaska Department of Transportation and Public Facilities, in an email.

The landslide likely occurred due to a beaver dam that broke, “forcing a large amount of water to washout downhill from the beaver pond,” DOT said on Facebook.

The road was initially impassable at first, but two loaders were removing debris, Tessen said. The highway opened one lane to traffic around 4 p.m. and had opened a second lane by late Thursday night.

Crews were expected to work through Friday. Drivers could expect 20-minute pilot car delays.