Upper Foothills closed to off-road travel
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Petroleum News
The Alaska Department of Natural Resources' Division of Mining, Land and Water said May 10 that the Upper Foothills area closed to off-road winter tundra travel May 10 at 6 p.m. Off-road travel in progress must be completed within 72 hours, by 6 p.m. May 13.
The division said snowpack deterioration is widespread in the Upper Foothills area, and with warm temperatures and sunny skies continuing the snowpack is expected to continue to deteriorate over the next week.
The division said snow may be adequate for travel in some areas and it will consider granting travel extensions on a case-by-case basis, with exceptions requiring prior approval by an authorized representative.
Summer off-road travel for holders of valid permits with specific project approval and limited to vehicles approved by the division for off-road summer travel is expected to begin at 6 a.m. July 15.
Eastern, western areas open The division said the Eastern and Western Coastal areas remain open, with the latest assessment of snow conditions on May 8.
The Eastern Coastal area opened Dec. 23; the Western Coastal area opened Dec. 30.
"Road dust and exposed vegetation are leading to some snow-pack deterioration in heavily trafficked areas such as the Spine and Oxbow Roads," the division said. "Areas of high-density roads within the oil field may no longer be suitable for off-road travel," but the snowpack remains deep and off-road travel is still OK in most locations. Where the snowpack is deep, many locations continue to have protective slab areas, but the division warned users to avoid areas of exposed tundra.
--Petroleum News
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