PALMER — While the public got a glimpse of potential plans to alleviate traffic at the intersection of the Palmer-Wasilla and Glenn highways, the project manager offered an overview of progress made and the direction ahead.

Jim Amundsen, with the Department of Transportation and Public Facilities, said there are five proposals currently under consideration for what is now called the Palmer-Wasilla Highway Eastern Terminus Project.

All of the options include three main components.

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First, traffic would continue to be two directional on both the Palmer-Wasilla Highway and Evergreen Avenue.

Second, a two-way Dogwood Avenue would be expanded to link Cobb Street and Felton Road.

Third, an expanded Felton Road would link Dogwood Avenue and the Palmer-Wasilla Highway.

Where they differ is how Dogwood Avenue connects to the Palmer-Wasilla Highway and what happens in the southern portion of Palmer. Three of the options would run a ramp from the intersection of Dogwood Avenue and Felton Road to the highway. One of the options would realign Springer Loop and Moore Road to create a southern corridor.

These were the options created by the Citizens Advisory Committee, Amundsen said, and the committee wanted to bring them to the public now while there is still flexibility.

The committee was formed after the outcry to create a one-way couplet cutting through downtown. Amundsen said DOT/PF, working in conjunction with the city and the Mat-Su Borough, identified safety issues along the Palmer-Wasilla Highway. The intersection at the Glenn Highway was one of the issues identified, he said.

A traffic study done in 2005 and 2006 determined a one-way couplet would be the most efficient way to relieve pressure at the intersection, Amundsen said.

“The community spoke loud and clear that a one-way was not acceptable,” Amundsen said.

The citizens committee developed the five alternatives on display Thursday night, and Amundsen said he believes any of the five would be acceptable to get DOT/PF funding.

From the comments made at the open house or online at www.pwhet.com, Amundsen said the committee will review the public’s reaction to the alternatives at its Feb. 16 meeting.

Amundsen said a few people showed up at the open house very upset because they still thought the plan included a one-way couplet. But, he said, they calmed down after walking through the room and looking at the maps, none of which contained any mention of a one-way Evergreen Street or Dogwood Avenue.

Amundsen said funding came up in a few conversations. The original allocation for the project was about $19 million, he said. The one-way couplet was estimated to cost an additional $15 million to $20 million to be allocated by the state. All five of the alternatives should actually cost less than the one-way option — more in the range of $20 million to $35 million, he said.

Lastly, Amundsen said, the Wal-Mart issue once again reared its head. Wal-Mart owns a lot at the corner of the Palmer-Wasilla Highway and where Felton Road would potentially be expanded to. In fact, the ramp connecting the end of Dogwood Avenue to the highway would run right across the middle of that property.

Despite accusations to the contrary, Amundsen said Wal-Mart has never held undue influence over the project. They have their voice, he said, but it is no louder than any other private resident or business owner. If the ramp makes it into the preferred alternative plan, then they have to buy right-of-way across the property just like they would across any other parcel.

“I don’t work for Wal-Mart. I work for the community. And my bosses all have that same opinion,” Amundsen said.

At the Feb. 16 meeting — 4:30 p.m. at the Red Beet Cafe — the committee will decide what alternative or portions of the alternatives it is willing to move forward with. The body could also decide that the city is simply not ready for the disruption the project will cause, and let the issue stand for a few years.

However, there are limits to the planning phases of even government projects.

“This is Round 2. At some point, DOT has to say there are other problems on the Palmer-Wasilla Highway this money can go toward,” Amundsen said. “I would expect if we hit sometime around August and we don’t have a preferred alternative, that would be an answer in and of itself.”

Contact Todd L. Disher at todd.disher@frontiersman.com or 352-2252.