VIDEO: Huge Avalanche Dams River, Creates Lake, Blocks Only Road to Valdez, AK

This clip shows a flyover of Keystone Canyon and the Lowe River, 1/26/2014. A glacier sized avalanche has blocked the river. An ice lake has formed, currently at an estimated depth of 60 feet and growing. The Richardson Highway is flooded and the town of Valdez cut off from road access. There is some concern as to when and how the lake will release and downstream residents are on evacuation alert. – akiwiguy101

If you’re thinking of driving into Valdez this winter, you might have to think again.  Watch this video and be blown away how big the lake is that has formed from the Lowe river being blocked by a ridiculously large avalanche near Valdez, Alaska.  The only road to Valdez is underneath that lake.

The lake created is about 60 feet deep and about a half mile long.  What will happen when the snow dam breaks, no one knows, but it certainly could be catastrophic.

A massive pile of avalanche debris kept the Richardson Highway closed on Monday, and officials were reluctant to offer any forecast on when the only road into Valdez would reopen.

The threat posed by a half-mile-long lake pooled behind a snow dam in Keystone Canyon and continuing avalanche danger from the slopes above make it too dangerous for crews to move in and begin cleaning up, officials said.

“There are just too many unknowns at this point,” statewide maintenance engineer Mike Coffey said.

Valdez city officials have consistently said they expect the highway to be closed “for at least one week, but very possibly longer,” according to city spokeswoman Sheri Pierce. The Alaska Department of Transportation had been more optimistic, saying on Sunday it could be re-opened as early as Tuesday. But a flyover Monday showed the scale of the dammed water, Coffey said, and the state said simply the road was closed “until further notice.”

Valdez is prepared to ride out being cut off. Groceries have been replenished at the town supermarket. Extra flights to and from Anchorage were added. The Alaska Marine Highway System will make additional runs to Valdez, ferrying passengers to the road system via Whittier.

The situation on the Richardson Highway, involving multiple avalanches on both sides of Thompson Pass, is “extraordinary,” Coffey said.

“We haven’t had to deal with anything quite like this before.” – Anchorage Daily News