Updated: 1:25 a.m. AKDT, Thursday, July 30, 2026 | 5:25 a.m. ET
This story has been updated to reflect that the highway has reopened.
The Sterling Highway has reopened in both directions after a multi-vehicle collision shut down the road for several hours Friday afternoon near Jean Lake and the Skyline Trailhead, troopers said.
Alaska State Troopers said the highway reopened at about 5:40 p.m. The closure was first reported around 2 p.m., according to the Alaska Department of Public Safety.
The state transportation department’s interactive map showed the road was expected to stay closed for several more hours while crews responded to the scene.
Troopers said the crash was blocking the highway at milepost 164 near North Fork Road. The collision involved multiple vehicles, officials said.
Around 4 p.m., a spokesperson for the troopers said details about the crash were being withheld until next of kin have been notified.
During the closure, officials said drivers could bypass the area using the unpaved Skilak Loop Road, but should use caution. A detour was also available using the Old Sterling Highway.
Skilak Lake Road leaves the Sterling Highway at about Milepost 58 near the Fuller Lakes Trailhead on the east end and reconnects with the highway near Milepost 75 on the west end, according to troopers.
Motorists are still advised to use caution in the area and to check current conditions at 511.alaska.gov, officials said.