AST’s Bureau of Highway Patrol relocated to Mat-Su

WASILLA — The Alaska State Troopers Bureau of Highway Patrol has moved to the Valley.

Department of Public safety Commissioner Amanda Price issued a press release on Jan. 28 stating that the three troopers who had been patrolling the Seward Highway from Anchorage will be relocated to the Mat-Su West post in Meadow Lakes.

“BHP’s presence in the Valley will be a great asset to our public safety work here… Alaskans should always stay alert, drive safely, and avoid distractions while they’re behind the wheel,” AST B Detachment Commander Captain Tony April said in the press release.

Due to high levels of dangerous traffic accidents occurring in the Valley, Price felt the need to relocate the BHP.

“Drivers hoping for a change in enforcement levels should curb those expectations. Alaskans should continue to exercise safe driving practices and follow all traffic laws to ensure their safety, and the safety of others,” Price said.

AST Spokesperson Tim Despain said that BHP troopers receive the same training as Alaska Wildlife Troopers and AST patrol troopers. While the B Detachment that covers the Valley is headquartered at the Public Safety building in Palmer, the BHP will be located at the Mat-Su West post for further enforcement of safety corridors that have earned a reputation as less than safe. Portions of the Parks Highway and Knik-Goose Bay Road are designated as safety corridors. KGB saw five fatalities in 2018. BHP is not subject to budget cuts, as it is partially funded by grants from the Alaska Highway Safety Office as part of the Department of Transportation.

“There’s been an increase in serious accidents and fatalities, so those Troopers are being moved out there essentially so that they’re closer to those problem areas that they can concentrate their efforts on,” DeSpain said. “Our goal is to try and reduce the numbers of fatal and serious injury accidents, and by having an increased trooper presence and specifically troopers that their focus is on the road system. They’re not constantly being pulled away from patrolling different roads in the Valley. They’ll be able to maintain a better presence and watching for dangerous drivers.”

Mat-Su Borough Mayor Vern Halter still has his sights set on 85 troopers patrolling the Mat-Su Valley, but is pleased with the relocation of BHP.

“There’s a lot of other things that need to be corrected too this is just a small start,” Halter said. “KGB is an area of concern. It’s high traffic and until they get that road rebuilt to 4 lanes, it's going to be a tough one so we welcome the news.”

Halter is wary of the budgeting process going on in Juneau right now and wants to bolster courts and prosecutors along with the troopers. Halter says that rebuilding KGB is paramount, but he has trust in Gov. Mike Dunleavy.

BHP was relocated on Feb. 1.

Contact Frontiersman reporter Tim Rockey at tim.rockey@frontiersman.com.