Dempster Highway in Canada’s northwestern Yukon Territory reopened after rainfall
50 millimeters was expected to fall Wednesday night in area
The Dempster Highway in Canada’s northwest Yukon territory has been reopened.
About 100 kilometres of the highway were closed earlier Thursday due to heavy rainfall. While the road is open, it is down to one lane between kilometre 224 and kilometre 254.
Heavy rains and rising waters in creeks were causing problems for highway maintenance crews. Crews are assessing highway damage near the Engineer Creek campground and road construction equipment is on its way to the washout area to start rebuilding the road.
Highways officials can’t say how long that reconstruction might take.
Stan McNevin, who operates the Eagle Plains Lodge, said he’s no stranger to road washouts. He said he expects this closure will take days to resolve.
“It sounds like the campground at Engineer Creek is flooded out. I suspect strongly that the water is still rising and until that stops there really isn’t a lot that can be done,” he said.
The Yukon Government is urging travellers to check the 511Yukon website for the latest information before heading out on the Dempster Highway.
External Link:
511 Yukon, Yukon road conditions
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