Portion of Taylor Highway Reopens

Dan Bross, KUAC – Fairbanks

The state has re-opened a flood damaged stretch of Taylor Highway.  The Department of Transportation reports emergency repairs have made the 30 mile stretch from Chicken to the Top of the World Highway passable, meaning you can drive from road’s start at Tok all the way to Dawson City, Yukon.  The Taylor was closed past mile 67 at Chicken for a week due to heavy rains that caused slides and washouts at several spots.  State Department of Transportation spokeswoman Meadow Bailey says major repairs are underway.

A pilot car is being used to get motorists over a heavily damaged 10 mile stretch of road between Chicken and the Top of the World junction.  The Taylor remains closed north of the Junction, where the road spurs to Eagle.

Bailey says the goal to get that section road, a popular tourist route, open as soon as possible.

Holland America has had to cancel tour boat runs on the Yukon River from Dawson to Eagle, because there’s no way to get buses into Eagle to pick up passengers.

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