UPDATE Sunday 3/22/2025 – 3 p.m.: Crews began construction on a single-lane bypass road around the Wolfe Point rockslide early Sunday morning. Officials say the road is meant to restore “limited daytime travel” and is expected to be completed by Monday or Tuesday.
The Ketchikan Emergency Operations Center said in a press release that residents should only plan to use the bypass for necessary travel when it opens and should expect “significant delays as vehicles that were previously stranded on either side of the slide are relocated.”
The free water taxi service between Taquan and The Ketch and the north end shuttle buses will continue until the main road is fully cleared.
It is not yet clear when the bypass will open or when it will be in operation each day but officials are expected to release more information Sunday evening.
__________
UPDATE Saturday 3/21/2025 – 9 p.m.: Officials say the section of Tongass Highway blocked by Thursday’s slide will remain closed through the weekend. Because the cleanup process is slow, crews now plan to construct a temporary, single-lane bypass they hope to open early this week.
The Alaska Department of Transportation says crews will begin constructing the bypass Sunday morning, which will be a one-lane, gravel flagger-controlled detour with limited hours of operation.
The Department of Transportation said that the continued movement and instability of slide zone have slowed the cleanup process. Crews are unable to conduct nighttime operations due to the increased risk of darkness. The department said there is a large team working to open the road and they will continue to work as quickly as possible.
__________
Crews continue to clear Thursday’s Wolfe Point rockslide, where the slope remains unstable. The Alaska Department of Transportation said it hopes to achieve intermittent single lane access by Monday.
The slide came down Thursday morning and completely covered Tongass Highway, just north of the airport. It left people who live north of the slide cut off from city services and the airport indefinitely. There were no injuries reported from the slide.
The Alaska Department of Transportation said that a Saturday morning inspection revealed that conditions had changed naturally overnight. A large boulder had dislodged and slid into the debris pile. Crews are currently focused on removing material to expose the slope, so they can assess its stability. That will involve bringing large boulders down to road level, then breaking and removing them. The Department of Transportation said it’s hoping to allow single-lane access during peak travel times by Monday while cleanup continues.
Crews are scaling up work on the north side of the slide, and moving to the south. The Department of Transportation said more crews are being brought in to accelerate the cleanup process while prioritizing safety.
Free water shuttles are running every 30 to 45 minutes between Taquan and The Ketch to help residents get across the slide area. A small bus will transport passengers to and from The Ketch and Tyler Rental and Walmart. The First Student Bus and Borough Bus will run continuous loops from Walmart to Clover Pass, stopping at regularly scheduled stops every 30 minutes. Passengers can also flag the bus by extending their arm toward the roadway. All transportation services are free of charge.
A paratransit vehicle is available north of the slide for individuals with mobility challenges who need emergency transportation. To arrange service, contact KGB Bus Plus Paratransit at 907-225-8726. This service will remain available as needed.
Officials from the Emergency Operations Center are actively coordinating with the U.S. Postal Service and local pharmacy services to utilize the water shuttle system for the transport of essential goods to north-end residents. Efforts are underway to ensure that mail, prescriptions, and other critical supplies can be delivered despite the ongoing road closure.
Officials request that the public stay clear of the slide area for safety and to allow crews to continue their work.
