State lands still closed for tundra travel

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The Dec. 4 Alaska Department of Natural Resources report on the status of off-road travel restrictions on state lands in northern Alaska indicated that all areas remained closed at that time. In coastal areas the soil temperatures had dropped below the minus 5 degrees C threshold for off-road travel but the snow cover was still too thin for a tundra travel opening. By contrast, in the Brooks Range foothills there was adequate snow cover but the soil temperatures were mostly too high.

However, DNR said that it had approved the pre-packing of ice roads using summer-approved off-road vehicles for several projects, with the possibility of ice-road construction being allowed in coastal areas because the ground is well frozen. Companies wanting to construct ice roads need to submit a request for approval to DNR.

—Alan Bailey