Alaska Hwy westbound lane closes at Johnson River Bridge through July 6

A westbound lane closure is in effect on the Alaska Highway at the Johnson River Bridge near mile marker 1380, affecting truckers, freight operators, and travelers on the Tok-to-Delta Junction corridor through Sunday evening, July 6.

Alaska 511 logged the closure Friday evening, classifying it as major severity. The Alaska Department of Transportation and Public Facilities issued this advisory: "Johnson River Bridge - Lane closure. Traffic control is enroute. Use caution, reduce speed. Watch 511 for updates." No cause has been officially released. The closure is scheduled to lift Sunday at 8:41 p.m. UTC.

The bridge sits in the Southeast Fairbanks Census Area, roughly 42 miles south of Delta Junction. The closure comes as the structure is already slated for full replacement. DOT&PF has stated: "The Alaska Department of Transportation and Public Facilities (DOT&PF) is proposing to replace the Johnson River Bridge #518 (MP 1380.5) on the Alaska Highway." That work is part of a bundled project that also includes the nearby Gerstle River Bridge. The U.S. Department of Transportation awarded $108.7 million to advance the Johnson River and Gerstle River Bundled Bridge Replacement Project, providing federal backing to replace aging, load-restricted spans on this corridor.

Travelers should monitor 511.alaska.gov for real-time updates before heading out.