Whittier News

Bill Gleavy, right, of Dedham, Mass., shows off his 257.2-pound halibut that won the Seward Halibut Tournament with captain Kevin Knight of Profish-N-Sea Charters.

The state Department of Transportation turned on a new traffic signal with a flashing yellow arrow Wednesday at the intersection of Whittier Street and Egan Drive.

VINTAGE BENTLEYS TOUR ALASKA : You may have seen them around Anchorage on Sunday and Monday.

The Inn at Whittier, a 25-room lodge and restaurant, has reopened for year-round business under new ownership.

WHITTIER: Some "nice Alaskans" come to aid of passengers who abort trip. Published: May 27th, 2009 09:47 PM Last Modified: May 27th, 2009 09:47 PM A Princess cruise ship traveling to Alaska reported a gastrointestinal illness outbreak on Sunday that sickened 108 of its 2,000 passengers and seven crew members.

The Coast Guard and Auxiliary units responded to 13 recreational vessels in need of assistance from Prince William Sound to Homer during the Memorial Day weekend ultimately rescuing more than 30 boaters.

The cars began streaming into Whittier just before 1 p.m. Friday afternoon. For Larry Bussman, it was none too soon.

The Alaska Department of Transportation has spent roughly $1.8 million - as of May 11 - to clear the road to Whittier of a massive rockslide that closed the road for nearly a month.

State transportation officials say the Portage Glacier Highway to Whittier will reopen at noon Friday with two lanes of traffic.

State transportation officials say the Portage Glacier Highway will reopen on a limited schedule, starting Friday.

State transportation crews have blasted unstable rock along the Portage Glacier Highway in an effort to clear the only road to Whittier.

The 26th Alaska Legislature gaveled out on April 19. My first priority is to protect Juneau's economic interests.

State transportation officials are continuing to clear rubble from the Portage Glacier Highway, but don't expect it to reopen any time soon.

Norwegian Cruise Line is shifting its Alaska-bound cruise ship, the Norwegian Sun, from Vancouver to Europe next year - a move than will mean a $38-million annual loss to Vancouver's economy.

Officials at the Department of Transportation and Public Facilities say that work crews are mobilizing drilling rigs to the top of a slope above Portage Glacier Highway to begin drilling and blasting a rock slab that has shown significant movement in recent days-one that poses a potential safety hazard.

Alaska Department of Transportation and Public Facility photo / The Associated Press via Alaska Department of Transportation and Public Facility Cleanup crews remove rock and debris April 21, 2009, to mitigate additional slides on Portage Glacier Highway near Girdwood.

It was almost two weeks ago that a rockslide shutdown the Whittier tunnel leaving people stuck on each side.

When Dale Walberg thinks back a year, he has very vivid memories. "A year ago this week we had a foot and a half of new snow," says Walberg, owner of Mile 5.2 Greenhouse in Eagle River.

Tourism officials expect a 25 percent decline in bookings for the 2009 visitor season, but officials with the Alaska Marine Highway System say they are noticing steady bookings with increased activity in recent weeks.

With the skies still cold and grey, it may seem premature to think about long days and green grass.