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Alaska Department of Transportation Seeking Public Comment on Alaska Peninsula Highway

Department of Transportation and Public Facilities

The Alaska Department of Transportation and Public Facilities is working with the Federal Highway Administration in soliciting comments and information on the Alaska Peninsula Highway. 

The Alaska Peninsula Highway between King Salmon and Naknek is in need of some help.  The Alaska DOT is seeking comments from the public on a proposal that would rehabilitate and widen two bridges and replace a third with a culvert.

The proposed work would also include improving drainage along bridge decks and approaches, installing retaining walls, signs and striping as needed, vegetative clearing, and installing or replacing guardrails and bridge rails. 

Project manager with the State of Alaska DOT Luke Bowland is working on the bridges portion of the project.  He says the bridges at King Salmon Creek and Paul’s Creek are looking to be widened and Leader Creek’s bridge will be replaced with a culvert.

Bowland says the department is hoping for a lot of public feedback concerning the project.

“Any input from people who are using that road on a regular basis. I think one of the big benefits to this project is you’ve got a fairly narrow bridge that we’re going to provide shoulders that should help with travel on that piece of road.”

He says the department just finished repaving the road between King Salmon and Naknek, including paved shoulders and a safety edge.  However, the bridges were not widened.  Bowland says this new project will complement the repaved road well.

Construction on the proposed project is estimated to begin in the summer of 2016.

“It would be a single season construction project. Right now we’re in the process of completing our environmental document and one of the reasons we’re seeking comments as part of that process. Once we get done with that we can get that we can move forward with our final design and we’ll be working with our bridge design team in Juneau and then the folks here in Anchorage will be working on the approaches to the bridges.”

Comments are being accepted through October 31st and can be sent to the DOT PO Box 196900 Anchorage, Alaska 99519.