Chilkat Valley News - Serving Haines and Klukwan, Alaska since 1966

Parts of the Haines Highway reconstruction project are on hold after a routine review found a design flaw.

“During a routine plans review for Haines Highway phase three (Mile 20.0 to 25.0), our bridge design group identified a design-strength deficiency on the project’s debris flow pipe headwall/wing walls. They subsequently looked at phase two designs (Mile 12.2 to 20.0) and found the same issue,” Alaska Department of Transportation spokesperson Sam Dapcevich said in an interview Tuesday.

The department halted work on the structures on Friday, June 25 while work on the rest of the project continued.

Dapcevich said the project’s designer determined a change was necessary and is working to update plans for wall construction.

“We anticipate having sufficient information to resume construction on the debris flow structures this week,” Dapcevich said, adding, “Some of the completed debris flow structure walls will likely need retrofitting.”

The multi-year reconstruction project, which began in 2018, includes realignment of the highway, widening shoulders, grading, paving, landslide mitigation and drainage improvements between 3.9 Mile and 25 Mile to allow for a 55-mph speed limit.