The Homer Spit Road was closed periodically between Saturday afternoon, Nov. 16, and Sunday night, Nov. 17, due to bombarding high tide, winds, and high surf.
The Homer Police Department closed Spit Road on Saturday around 4:00 p.m. after one lane was damaged by wind-blown and sea-swept debris. Shortly after the closure, they announced that, due to anticipated extreme weather through the night, the road would remain closed until at least 6:00 a.m. Sunday morning.
“This was substantial as it scoured and undercut the Homer Spit Road in about a quarter mile section of the highway and actually washed out portions of the asphalt and the fog line on the southbound lane,” said Homer Harbor Master Matt Clarke. “Then beyond that, moving South towards the port and harbor facility, there were a series of properties along the West side of the Homer Spit that suffered significant erosion.”
The road reopened Sunday night, but Clarke says that doesn’t mean things have returned to full functionality yet and that it may be some time before they do.
“It’s also my understanding that the initial efforts that will shore up the highway and ensure access through the winter months is not a permanent fix but more of a temporary fix until a permanent solution can be planned,” Clarke said. (audio courtesy of Alaska News Source)
