Pedestrian bridge partially collapses over the Seward Highway

ANCHORAGE, Alaska (KTUU) - The sides and roof encasing the pedestrian bridge over the Seward Highway to Rabbit Creek Elementary School collapsed early Sunday morning, crashing onto the highway.

The Seward Highway was closed for several hours as the Alaska Department of Transportation and Public Facilities worked to clear the debris.

Security footage captured by nearby Bell’s Nursery, which is located on the west side of the highway near the bridge, shows the moments of the collapse.

A timecode imprinted on the video shows that the fencing and roof broke off at 2:12 a.m. Sunday.

The highway was reopened just before 6 a.m. after the bridge debris was removed from the highway.

According to Anchorage Police, there were no injuries. They say one vehicle was driving on the highway before it was closed, and came into contact with the debris after the collapse, but the impact was considered minor.

Shannon McCarthy, Communications Director for Alaska DOT, says maintenance crews used sawzalls to cut through the metal, dismantling the decking and caging before front-end loaders and sweepers moved any debris off the highway.

DOT has crews stationed in the area to monitor the situation. DOT bridge engineering teams are expected to inspect the structure. They don’t know the cause at this time but will look into what role the high winds played a factor in the bridge collapse.

According to a DOT spokesperson, the steel bridge was built in 1972 and underwent a rehabilitation project in 2020. The most recent inspection was completed in June 2023 and no work items were recommended. The bridge spans 318 feet over the highway and features a concrete base with a timber roof.

See a spelling or grammar error? Report it to web@ktuu.com

Copyright 2025 KTUU. All rights reserved.