High water closes 2 Alaska highways

The Alaska Department of Transportation says two state highways will be closed much of Friday.

The department announcement says the Richardson Highway outside Valdez will be closed due to high water at a bridge through Keystone Canyon. The closure at Miles 12 to 16 is expected last until 3 p.m.

The department says the Denali Highway is closed at Mile 118, which is about 20 miles east of Cantwell, because of flooding and a road washout. The mostly gravel highway between Cantwell and Paxson is expected to reopen at about 6 p.m.