THE Great Alpine Road south of Mount Hotham will remain closed between Christmas and New Year.
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The Department of Environment, Land, Water and Planning's Gippsland division has confirmed the road is shut between Bruthen and Swifts Creek due to major damage caused by bushfires.
Dangerous and fallen trees are being cleared by machinery, but more are falling constantly.
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"Due to the sloping terrain we are finding that trees up to 100m above the road are falling down and sliding onto the road surface," DELWP Gippsland said.
"Local contractors on skidders, excavators and a harvester, hand fallers with chainsaws, and arborists, are out on site assessing hazardous trees and clearing as they go.
"The road surface has also been heavily damaged as has road infrastructure like signs and guideposts.
"We know this will have a significant impact on all communities north of Bruthen already affected by fires and smoke in the area for weeks now.
"We are doing everything we can to both fast track the road's reopening and also working towards re-opening other routes for local access only."
Power was restored to the area late on Sunday after being cut off early Saturday when bushfire activity in the area intensified.
