(Fairbanks, AK) – With spring breakup approaching in Interior Alaska, the Fairbanks-Delta Area Forestry office is urging the public to avoid driving on select Tanana Valley State Forest roads from April 13 to May 15.
Affected logging roads include Cache Creek, Nenana Ridge, Rosie Creek, Skinny’s, Bonanza Creek, Standard Creek, Two Rivers, Mosquito Creek, Jenny M, and Quartz Lake Extension.
The silt-based roads in the Fairbanks-Delta area become extremely soft and muddy during breakup, making them susceptible to damage from vehicles and ATVs. Some roads become impassable and motorists risk getting stuck and having their vehicles mired in mud up to their axles. Traffic in these tenuous conditions creates ruts, which channels runoff from snow melt and causes roads to wash out.
“If roads are severely damaged by traffic and runoff during spring break up, repairs can cost thousands of dollars and lead to long-term closures,” said Fairbanks Area Forester Kevin Breitenbach with the Alaska Division of Forestry & Fire Protection. “We’re asking Alaskans to avoid using these roads while they are soft and susceptible to damage. Getting stuck or damaging a road this time of year isn’t worth a load of firewood or preventing your fellow Alaskans from using the resource in the future.”
CONTACT: Kevin Breitenbach, Fairbanks Area Forester, (907) 451-2614, kevin.breitenbach@alaska.gov
Find all DNR News Releases at: https://dnr.alaska.gov/commis/pic/publicnote
Categories: AK Fire Info, Alaska DNR - Division of Forestry (DOF)
Alaska Wildland Fire Information 