ANCHORAGE, Alaska — Early Sunday morning, a pedestrian bridge lost its side fencing and roof due to intense winds, resulting in the closure of the primary highway heading south from Anchorage in both directions until the debris could be managed.

Fortunately, no injuries were reported from the incident when the structure fell onto the Seward Highway, located on the southern outskirts of Alaska’s largest city, as per the Alaska Department of Transportation and Public Facilities.

Around 2:30 a.m., a highway worker alerted authorities to the fallen debris. Subsequently, traffic was redirected, and maintenance crews equipped with saws and front-end loaders worked efficiently to clear the site by 6:30 a.m., stated department spokesperson Shannon McCarthy in an email.

Although it’s premature to declare the exact cause of the collapse, McCarthy mentioned that the high winds were likely a significant factor contributing to the incident.

Interestingly, the main structural framework of the bridge, which spans the four-lane highway as well as an entrance ramp and an adjacent roadway, sustained no damage. This pedestrian bridge serves an important function by connecting a nearby neighborhood to an elementary school.

At the time of the accident, wind speeds exceeded 20 mph (approximately 32 kilometers per hour). The National Weather Service had also predicted severe weather conditions for later in the day, with strong winds possibly reaching 60 mph (around 96 kilometers per hour), in addition to heavy rain and snow.