Copper River Highway closed

CHITINA (AP) -- The Copper River Highway was officially closed to traffic from O'Brien Creek to Haley Creek Tuesday morning by the state Department of Transportation and Public Facilities.

The road had been reopened Monday afternoon after a slide trapped about 300 people in the popular dipnetting area. The official closure came after additional rock slides made it unsafe for vehicles and pedestrians.

Transportation officials said a crew would be in the area Thursday and would try to have the road cleared and reopened to traffic by Friday morning.