UPDATE: All lanes of the Seward Highway at the Girdwood turnoff are open

Anchorage police say that all lanes of the Seward Highway at the Girdwood turnoff are now open.

Anchorage Police say extreme winter conditions have caused DOT to close the Seward Highway in both directions early New Year’s Day.

As Anchorage rang in the New Year with several inches of fresh snow, APD announced the closure just before 5:30 a.m. Wednesday.

Extreme winter weather conditions were affecting visibility all across Anchorage, the alert read.

Tuesday evening at least two crashes impacted traffic at major intersections as the snow began to fall.

This is a developing story and will be updated.