Screenshot of Backloop Bridge Damage, sent to KINY
NOTN- Repairs continue on the Mendenhall River Back Loop Bridge after the record glacier lake outburst flood this month caused severe damage, authorities reported.
The flood scoured an area approximately 16 feet deep, 50 feet long, and 120 feet wide, displacing roughly 3,555 cubic yards of material, equivalent to about 300 dump-truck loads.
Since Saturday, Aug. 16, crews have excavated more than 22 feet to reach stable material and begin rebuilding around the undermined but stable bridge structures. Officials said about 5.7 million pounds of rock have been placed to restore the riverbanks and roadway.
If conditions allow, officials are targeting a reopening of the bridge by tomorrow, Aug. 26, with paving to follow depending on crew availability. Authorities urged motorists to be patient, noting that safety and long-term durability guide the reconstruction effort.
This drone image provided by the City and Borough of Juneau shows flooding from a release of water and snowmelt at Mendenhall Glacier covered some roads and threatened homes along the Mendenhall River in Juneau, Alaska on Wednesday, Aug. 13, 2025. (City and Borough of Juneau via AP)
This drone image provided by the City and Borough of Juneau shows flooding from a release of water and snowmelt at Mendenhall Glacier covered some roads and threatened homes along the Mendenhall River in Juneau, Alaska on Wednesday, Aug. 13, 2025. (City and Borough of Juneau via AP)
NOTN- City officials in Juneau say flood protection measures largely held during this month’s Suicide Basin release, but the risk of another release later this year remains.
Emergency Programs Manager Ryan O’Shaughnessy said five of the most severely damaged homes were on View Drive.
The barriers prevented widespread destruction but still experienced seepage and minor flooding in some areas.
“Six homes did have that major damage classification, And what that means is that water entered the living space and was generally above the height of a standard electrical outlet.” Said O’Shaughnessy, “At this time, the best professional judgment of the CBJ Engineering and Public Works team does believe that the HESCO barriers are not a viable solution for View Drive, so we’re working to identify any other solutions we can.”
Officials say long-term options for View Drive could include state- or federally sponsored buyouts. Meanwhile, the city is focusing on assessing barrier performance, repairing damaged sections, and moving forward with “Phase Two” of the project, which would extend protection as far as Brotherhood Bridge and Meadow Lane.
“There’s a lot of questions about phase two, and we’re working really hard to answer those, but seeing the effectiveness of the HESCO barriers this year is a great indication and a good reminder that we’re not out of the woods yet,” O’Shaughnessy said.
Last year, Suicide Basin released again in October with a final flood stage of just under 11 feet, and officials warn the glacier-dammed lake is currently refilling at a steady rate of about three feet per day, O’Shaughnessy said. “It is entirely possible we could see another release this year, another great reminder that we have a lot of work to do as a community.”
The city issued evacuation notices to more than 1,000 homes ahead of the flood, which crested at 16.6 feet, the highest on record. O’Shaughnessy credited the unified response involving the City and Borough of Juneau, state agencies, tribal partners, and the U.S. Coast Guard with preventing loss of life.
This drone image provided by the City and Borough of Juneau shows flooding from a release of water and snowmelt at Mendenhall Glacier covered some roads and threatened homes along the Mendenhall River in Juneau, Alaska on Wednesday, Aug. 13, 2025. (City and Borough of Juneau via AP)
This drone image provided by the City and Borough of Juneau shows flooding from a release of water and snowmelt at Mendenhall Glacier covered some roads and threatened homes along the Mendenhall River in Juneau, Alaska on Wednesday, Aug. 13, 2025. (City and Borough of Juneau via AP)
Juneau Mayor Beth Weldon provided more details following a damage assessment of the city’s recent glacier lake outburst flood, revealing that 16 houses experienced minor water damage while six homes suffered major impacts, primarily on View Drive.
“16 houses were affected, and what affected means is they had water in their garage that they could just vacuum up, or water in their crawl space, but there was no damage to insulation or sheet rock or anything like that.” Said Mayor Weldon, “25 minor, so that means water in their house or their garage affected something besides just being able to shop Vac, but did not go up past outlets in the wall.”
The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers says temporary flood barriers helped protect Juneau neighborhoods during last week’s flood.
The Corps shipped more than 37,000 feet of barrier wall, 112,000 sandbags, and other materials from Illinois to Juneau, where they were placed in phases along 2.5 miles of the river.
Floodwaters peaked at 16.6 ft., the highest on record.
Of the 751 homes above the 17-foot flood line, most remained unaffected by recent flooding. The city’s HESCO barriers largely performed as intended, though some areas experienced water seepage and tree damage.
Mayor Weldon says there were about 6 homes with major damage. “of those six major, five are on View Drive. So we know that View Drive is still a dilemma for us.” she also stated about 23 homes were unverified.
NOTN- Teams of organizations and volunteers from across Juneau—Tlingit & Haida, CBJ, Alaska Department of Environmental Conservation, USCG Sector Southeast Alaska, Community Emergency Response Team volunteers, Team Rubicon, American Red Cross, United Way of Southeast Alaska, and University of Alaska Southeast—worked together in the field to support impacted residents, identify any spills or safety hazards and to get a better understanding of the damage from this year’s flood. The teams assessed over 700 homes in the flood inundation area.
As a result, CBJ reports that overall damage levels are far below those of 2024. However, some homes and properties have suffered flood damage—especially to basements and crawlspaces—and will now begin recovery.
Crews will begin the first round of flood debris collection in Juneau on Monday, Aug. 17, starting at 8 a.m. in impacted neighborhoods on View Drive, Marion Drive, Meander Way and Meadow Lane.
Residents are asked to move debris to the right of way and sort it into three piles: large appliances such as refrigerators, freezers and lawn mowers; household hazardous waste including chemicals, pesticides, fuel, propane tanks and electronic waste; and all other debris, including construction materials and insulation.
Please be aware that CBJ, Tlingit & Haida and United Way are not accepting sandbags for disposal. Residents are strongly encouraged to keep and store sandbags for future outbursts for years to come.
