Dempster Highway could be closed 'several days,' Yukon gov't says

The Yukon government says the DempsterHighway is in worse shape than initially thoughtafter Wednesday's heavy rains, and it could be days before it's reopenedto traffic.

Officials said earlierthat there were five washed-out sections of the roadbetween the Tombstone Mountains and the N.W.T. border. They've since confirmed "several more."

"In some cases, the whole road has washed away," said Doris Wurfbaum of the Department of Highways and Public Works.

Crews were initially hoping to have at least one lane reopened sometime on Thursday, but Wurfbaumsaid it's clear now that won't happen.

"This will likely take several days before repairs can be made, and the road reopened," she said.

"Due to the amount and turbulent nature of the water, this work cannot begin until the water recedes."

16 hours stuck in a minivan

Wednesday's heavy rains caught some drivers unprepared. Kevin Vallelywas heading up the highway towardInuvik, N.W.T., in his minivan on Wednesdaywhen he found himself trappedbetweenwashouts.

"I got basically stuck out there. The road washed out in front of me, and behind me,and I was stuck," he said.

"So I spent the night last night 16 hours in factin my vehicle, at a spot waiting for one section of water to drop down so I could escape."

Eventually the water did drop enoughfor Vallelytoretreat to Dawson City.

"It got down to about a foot deep, and I kind of held my breath and just rammed it across it, and I made it."

Now he's still waiting in Dawson, anxious to reach his family in Inuvik, where theycompleted an epic canoe trip. Vallely had to retrieve the car in Hay River, because it couldn't be delivered on time by barge.

"This adventure never ends," he said.