A significant washout occurred on the Alaska Highway near kilometer 897, approximately 125 kilometers north of Liard Hot Springs in British Columbia. The incident was attributed to the collapse of a beaver dam following heavy rainfall in the area. The dam’s failure released a torrent of water and debris, which overwhelmed existing culverts under the highway, leading to the destruction of a 75-meter section of the road.
In response, Public Services and Procurement Canada (PSPC) coordinated with highway maintenance contractors and local First Nations to establish a temporary detour using an old alignment of the highway. This single-lane detour, managed with a pilot car, was opened within 72 hours to restore traffic flow.
Engineers assessed the damage and initiated repairs on the main section of the highway, aiming for completion within six to eight weeks. The restoration involved extensive work, including filling the washed-out area with thousands of cubic meters of gravel to rebuild the roadbed. The repairs were completed by mid-October 2022, allowing the highway to reopen fully before winter.
Beaver-related incidents affecting infrastructure are not uncommon. For instance, in July 2021, burst beaver dams caused landslides that blocked the Richardson Highway near Paxson, Alaska. Such events highlight the need for monitoring beaver activity near critical infrastructure to prevent similar occurrences.