A sequence of mudslides has obstructed the South Klondike Highway in the vicinity of Carcross, Yukon, interrupting road connections between the territory and the southeast Alaskan town of Skagway. The closure spans from kilometre 106 to 24, as reported by the Yukon Department of Highways and Public Works through a social media update on Tuesday. This closure essentially blocks the route from Carcross through northern British Columbia to the U.S.-Canada border. An official from the department communicated via email that numerous mudslides had occurred, necessitating evaluation work commencing on Wednesday morning.
The Skagway Police Department alerts indicated that no vehicles were caught in the mudslides, but two tourist buses from cruise ships were stranded due to the closure. The alerts conveyed information from Yukon Highways suggesting that the process of clearing the mudslides would be time-consuming, potentially extending the closure for several days. One alert highlighted that the mountain side was unstable, requiring assessment by a geologist before road clearance could proceed.
In an update, the Skagway police disclosed that a partial reopening of the highway was planned for Wednesday morning, permitting tours from the international border to the Yukon-B.C. border. However, traffic flow beyond kilometre 80 would remain restricted.
