Glenn Highway fully reopened in erosion-damaged stretch near Sutton

PALMER — The Glenn Highway was reopened to two lanes near Sutton late Sunday after the Matanuska River undercut the roadway over the weekend, prompting emergency repairs.

The river, running high with snowmelt, is threatening the highway in the area of Mile 63 as well as another section about 13 miles away near King Mountain.

Crews worked through Saturday night and Sunday placing material to shore up the eroding section at Mile 63.4 north of Sutton, according to the Alaska Department of Transportation and Public Facilities. The road was reopened to two lanes by 7:30 p.m. Sunday, according to an update.

Through the day Sunday, crews placed material off the north end of the damaged area to create a new embankment as they worked south to reestablish the shoulder, officials said.

Local residents had raised concerns about the rapid rate of erosion in the area but state officials last week said that section wasn’t as high a priority as the one by Kings Mountain, slated for emergency repairs this week. Officials said the erosion increased significantly Saturday, prompting the emergency work.

The highway connects Anchorage and Mat-Su with Glennallen before ending at the Richardson Highway, which connects drivers to the Alaska Highway and Canada.

The erratic behavior of the glacial Matanuska River has prompted home buyouts and relocations for decades as government agencies try to move people away from its channels.