Atigun Pass on the Dalton Highway reopens to one lane after avalanche closure

The Dalton Highway reopened to one lane over Atigun Pass on Monday, two days after avalanche danger shut down the main road to the North Slope, the Alaska Department of Transportation and Public Facilities said.

The single lane runs from Mile 242 to Mile 247, over the pass, the highway's high point in the Brooks Range. Northbound drivers should use tire chains and watch for crews and for vehicle recovery work near Mile 243, the department said. It expects to fully reopen the road once that recovery work is done.

The state closed the pass at 5 pm Saturday, citing high avalanche activity, as wind and blowing snow swept the area. Gusts hit 41 mph near Chandalar Shelf that evening, the National Weather Service reported.

Crews confirmed avalanche activity Sunday morning, and by that afternoon they were setting off slides on purpose to reduce the danger. The department does that with trained crews, military artillery and other methods.

More wind and snow are on the way. A winter weather advisory for the Dalton, Elliott and Steese highway summits runs through 6 pm Tuesday, with gusts up to 40 mph and blowing snow that could cut visibility below half a mile at times.

Severe weather and avalanches at Atigun Pass can strand travelers for days, the department warns on its Dalton Highway page. Current conditions are on Alaska 511.