SU — As a snowy spring gives way to a sunny summer, local road crews are taking to the streets for a full season of road construction.

The Alaska Department of Transportation and Public Facilities (DOT) has a truckload of local road projects slated for the 2008 construction season. Some are continuing from last year, like intersection improvements, while others are new to the Valley.

Todd Smith, a project engineer with DOT, said he is working on an array of Valley projects that include Bogard Road, Wasilla-Fishhook Road, Crusey Street and the Parks Highway. When it comes to Bogard Road, Smith said it’s all about making the thoroughfare a little more user- and vehicle-friendly.

(ROBERT DeBERRY/Froniersman) City Electric employees work on hanging preemptive emergency signal device on new traffic light signals above the Parks Highway Thursday afternnoon.

“People are ruining rims and tires on that road,” Smith said.

Work on Bogard is part of the Mat-Su Pavement Rehabilitation Program — a program that began in 2007, Smith said. In a nutshell, crews will be resurfacing roadways. While crews have temporarily fixed potholes and cracks, the Band-Aid approach isn’t providing a pleasant driving experience.

Tavi Vavalis, an employee at Candy Boutique along Bogard Road, said she’s happy to hear the road will be fixed.

“I think it’s a really good idea,” she said. “It real sucks having to drive around and go over a whole bunch of bumps.”

Vavalis said her driving experience on Bogard Road is never fun, especially considering her vehicle has bad shocks. Although Vavalis said she isn’t sure if a better road would help the business where she works, she believes if more people travel on the improved road she might see more people in the store.

The rehab project focuses on two major roadways in the Valley — Wasilla-Fishhook Road and Bogard Road. The Fishhook portion of the project will include resurfacing from Seldon Road to Palmer-Fishhook Road. Bogard will be resurfaced from Trunk Road to Palmer-Fishhook Road. Crusey Street improvements are also scheduled for completion this summer. For the most part, the project will include finishing the top layer of pavement and adding some landscaping.

Quality Asphalt Paving received a $4.8 million contract for Bogard and Wasilla-Fishhook. Work is scheduled to begin in May. Crews will be paving Wasilla-Fishhook during the day. On Bogard Road, crews will grind up old pavement during the day and paving will take place at night. Construction for both projects is scheduled to reach completion this year.

In addition to the Mat-Su Pavement Rehabilitation Program, DOT is working on other projects like Palmer-Wasilla Highway Intersection Improvements, the department reports. This group of projects includes the construction of traffic signals and improvements at Hyer Road, Hemmer Road, Equestrian Street and Wagon Road. Plans also call for improvements and a traffic signal at the intersection of the Parks Highway and Vine Road.

Jeff Campbell, a Valley resident of eight years, said he thinks traffic congestion is a big problem in Wasilla. And as the population grows, more traffic lights will be a welcome addition.

“I’m for it,” Campbell said. “I think they need more on there, but one thing though; I would like to see a bypass road.”