Carmageddon

WASILLA — It began this morning and is expected to continue for the next two weeks. Anyone driving Parks Highway near mile 46.6 — the Alaska Railroad overpass — should expect possibly lengthy delays.

Shannon McCarthy, spokesperson for the Alaska Department of Transportation and Public Facilities DOT&PF), said work on the overpass ingress and egress, as well as infrastructure. will result in traffic restricted to one lane in both directions. She said work will continue 24/7 as heavy equipment is set up which will block one lane.

Flaggers will direct traffic at both ends of the overpass. The project was scheduled to get underway Saturday morning, but McCarthy said that was pushed back to this morning starting at 7 a.m. Drivers utilizing Machen and Stanley Roads should also expect delays and should avoid the construction zone if possible.

“Because of the geometry of the bridge, we have to put one crane in the roadway,” McCarthy said. “We’re building the new foundation and tying it into the existing bridge foundation”

According to DOT&PF, traffic studies indicate the stretch of highway is traversed by 20,500 vehicles daily. Work on the overpass bridge is part of a three-phase, eight-mile expansion of the highway. Phase I, from Lucas Road to Church Road, is complete. The bridge expansion is part of the project’s second phase.

Phase II includes reconstruction from Church Road to Pittman Road and is expected to be completed in August of next year. Construction on Phase III is also expected to begin next summer. That will run from Pittman Road to Big Lake Road. The entire project is scheduled to be wrapped up by the end of summer in 2018.

Those traveling along the highway are asked to use caution and watch for trucks and large construction equipment crossing the roadway between milepost 45-47 during the traffic restriction. Off-road vehicle users are asked to find an alternate route during construction.

When the entire project is completed, milepost 44.5 to 48.8 will be reconstructed from a two-lane highway to a four-lane divided highway. The new section of bridge will be installed at milepost 46.5, and continuous lighting will be placed at Church, Stanley, Vine and Pittman roads.

Knik Construction is the subcontractor. To keep up to date with the latest project construction information, visit www.parkshighway44-52.