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Web posted
Monday, February 18, 2002
State plans millions in road projects throughout Mat-Su
By Chas St. George
For the Journal
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A railroad overpass is part of the Palmer-Wasilla Highway extension project, which is expected to be completed by late summer.
PHOTO/Ed Bennett/AJOC
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PALMER -- One big contributor to the Matanuska-Susitna economy this year will be the state Department of Transportation and Public Facilities. Here is a look at the projects that are projected for 2002-2003.
Under construction
$8.6 million for completion of the Palmer-Wasilla Highway extension. The project will extend the Palmer-Wasilla Highway south of the Parks Highway and connect with Knik-Goose Bay Road at Glenwood Avenue. This construction project is expected to be open to travel and completed by late summer.
$22 million for right of way acquisition, plus $16 million for construction on the Parks Highway from Mile 37 to Mile 39, Church Street to Seward Meridian Road. This project will upgrade the highway to a four lane divided highway with frontage roads, an interchange at Hyer Road, which also serves Fairview Loop on the south, and a paved separated bike path. The majority of construction should be completed by the end of summer.
$21.6 million to complete the Parks Highway project from Mile 57 to Mile 67, from the Little Susitna River in Houston to White's railroad crossing in Willow. The project will widen and repave the highway. It includes grade separating the railroad crossing and realigning portions of the highway to straighten curves. The project is expected to be completed this year.
$4.1 million to complete the Hatcher Pass Road project from the Little Susitna River Bridge to the Motherlode Lodge. The project includes rehabilitating and paving the seven-mile stretch of road. The project should be completed by midsummer.
Construction to begin this year
$5.5 million to pave Four Mile Road, Buffalo Mine Road, Church Road, Collier Road, Cottle Loop and Willow roads leading to the Willow State Recreation Site and Deshka Landing. The project also includes paving Hatcher Pass and Gold Cord Road leading from the end of current paving project at Motherlode Lodge to Independence Mine State Historical Park.
Other paving projects include Jensen Road, Lake View Circle, Peter Zell Circle, Rue Road, Scatters Way, Schelin Spur, West Matanuska Spur and 4.5 miles of Petersville Road from the end of the existing pavement. These projects should be completed by July 2003.
$5.7 million for completion of the Palmer-Wasilla Highway rehabilitation project. The project will include repaving the highway and adding turn pockets and street lights in selected locations. The project is expected to be completed by Oct. 31.
$48.1 million dedicated to the Glenn Highway/Parks Highway Interchange. The project includes a grade separation of the railroad crossing. The dirt work will start in midsummer, with the majority of work completed next year.
$9.9 million for the Knik-Goose Bay Road rehabilitation. The road will be repaved and shoulders widened from Glenwood Avenue all the way to Point MacKenzie Road. The road from Point MacKenzie south to Goose Bay Airport Road will receive a fresh gravel overlay. A paved separated path will be constructed from Glenwood to Settler's Bay. The project will be completed this summer.
$10.7 million for Parks Highway construction from Mile 67 to Mile 72, Whites Crossing to Willow Creek. The project includes widening the highway, resurfacing the road, developing a separated trail and replacing Willow Creek Bridge. The project may be constructed this summer if right of way acquisition and utility relocation proceeds smoothly and if funds are available to advance construction.
$40 million for the Glenn Highway from Mile 100 to 109. The project will reconstruct and widen the roadway and replace the Caribou Creek bridge.
$5.5 million projected for rehabilitation of the Talkeetna Spur Road from the Parks Highway to the Alaska Railroad station in downtown Talkeetna. This involves repaving, widening shoulders and constructing a separated (bicycle/pedestrian) path along 14.4 miles of road.
The total amount of federal and state dollars in Mat-Su road improvements over the next year comes to $181.7 million.
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