Lakina River Bridge Closed Next Week for Critical Repairs

Date: September 23, 2010

(FAIRBANKS, Alaska) – The Lakina River Bridge, located at milepost 44.3 of the McCarthy Highway, will be closed to all vehicle and pedestrian traffic beginning Sunday, Sept. 26 at 9 p.m.

The bridge is tentatively scheduled to reopen Oct. 4. During the closure the Alaska Department of Transportation & Public Facilities (DOT&PF) will make critical bridge repairs.

The Lakina River Bridge was damaged in late July when a vehicle crossing the bridge hit an overhead truss member. Since then, access across the bridge has been restricted to specific hours and vehicles were limited to 6,000 pounds or less. DOT&PF worked with the community of McCarthy to schedule bridge repairs at the end of the summer visitor season in an effort to minimize the impact on the community.

This week DOT&PF mobilized equipment to the bridge and is in the process of re-channeling the river so a construction pad can be built in the river. The construction pad will be located directly under the damaged portion of the bridge and will provide a working surface for the bridge crew and equipment.

Once bridge repairs are completed, the Lakina Bridge will be re-evaluated and appropriate load limits will be announced. Operating hours on the bridge will be unrestricted after repairs are finished.

The Lakina River Bridge is located about 15 miles west of McCarthy.

For updates call 511 or visit 511.alaska.gov.

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For more information contact: Meadow Bailey, Northern Region Public Information Officer at 907-378-2340 or e-mail us.