When a North Douglas crossing was first studied during the mid-1980s, planners proposed 15 places the bridge could extend over Gastineau Channel. Today that number has dwindled to three and public officials want help to narrow it to one.
Roughly 80 residents packed Centennial Hall on Jan. 17 to listen to a presentation by Sheinberg Associates, a consulting firm hired by the city to help narrow the choices.
Roughly one-quarter of those who attended the public hearing shared opinions on a favored route. Some criticized the need for a bridge at all.
“The ultimate route selected may very well determine if we can live in our current location,” said Douglas resident Mike Plotnick. He lives on Fish Creek Road, which would be most heavily affected by a Yandukin Drive bridge option.
Residents were asked to weigh in on plans for a crossing that would begin either at Yandukin Drive, Sunny Point or Vanderbilt Hill Road and end at various locations along North Douglas Highway between Mile 5 and Fish Creek Road.
All three routes are located east of the Juneau International Airport on the Juneau side.
Some residents cited concerns that all three bridge proposals would cross the Mendenhall Wetlands State Game Refuge.
“It is pretty valuable to be able to see these animals close to town,” said Phillip Gray, a Douglas resident. He said any choice would affect not only homeowners, but also bird-watchers and waterfowl hunters.
“I guess the major beneficiaries of this road are going to be developers,” he said.
Jan Caulfield of Sheinberg Associates said that if a proposal is selected, it must comply with the Clean Water Act.
A 2003 survey showed that a crossing was greatly supported by Juneau residents, she said. Sixty-three percent of residents wanted a bridge, with even more support shown among North Douglas residents. There, 75 percent of those surveyed favored a crossing.
No funding has been slated to construct the bridge or even complete the required environmental review process.
Cost estimates range from $68.1 million to $330.4 million and vary depending on both route and type of bridge.
