Alaska Railroad departments relocate

WASILLA — The Alaska Railroad has purchased and upgraded the old Kenai Supply Building on the Old Matanuska Road in Wasilla. In an effort to consolidate offices and improve location, the Railroad bought the 3.5 acres more than a year ago and began to remodel and provide a facelift to the long-empty buildings.

Set to relocate to the building are the Railroad’s Maintenance-of-Way and the Signal and Telecommunications departments, currently operating from separate locations within the Valley. The move involves 10 personnel.

According to Tim Sullivan, the Railroad’s manager of external affairs, the relocation not only puts departments in closer proximity for efficiency of work, but in the event of an emergency affecting the Anchorage office, this Wasilla location could be used as a staging area for equipment and a base for people and supplies.

Another building on the property is currently used by a nonprofit agency refurbishing an old 557 Steam Engine bequeathed to the Railroad by a private estate. When the engine is complete, that building will be transformed into a warehouse.

The facility will maintain nearly 20,000 square feet, to be leased as early as July 1. The space may be used for offices but also has retail potential.

For more information, contact Andrew Donovan at 265-2325.