Construction season comes to Palmer

Anyone who drives down Trunk Road sees big changes. It’s spring, and obviously construction season in Alaska. Approach Palmer from any direction and you see activity. Many private- and public-sector projects are beginning this year and continuing in the upcoming seasons.

Private projects in the works include small residential remodels and substantial commercial development. Public construction crews will be out striping roads and doing large-scale road building.

The largest city job in the works is a water tower, access road and waterline extension to Mat-Su College. This water and road access will service the new auditorium being built on campus. This is a multi-year project that continues the construction of water service to the hospital, college and Four Corners area. The next step will be to extend the water east along the Palmer-Wasilla Highway to complete a loop back to the city.

Construction inside the city limits is also booming. The dollar value of building permits issued by the city in 2012 is the highest to date. Two large project permits that contribute to that total are the Mat-Su Borough building expansion and the installation of athletic turf and track at Palmer High School.

Permits for private-sector upgrades, such as the Eagle Hotel, are substantial. And look for single- and multi-family residential construction throughout the summer.

A small but special city project is the continuing design and construction of a “pocket park” in the neighborhood of Brittany Estates. The park includes a play area and bike path, and is championed by volunteers and the National Park Service, along with the city of Palmer.

Some of the upcoming public projects in and around Palmer also include:

• Mat-Su College Performing Arts Center.

• Mat-Su College/city of Palmer water line expansion and road construction.

• MTA Events Center expansion.

• Trunk Road extension.

• Bogard Road extension.

• Dogwood and Evergreen Eastern Terminus Project.

• Glenn Highway upgrade to divided highway at the Parks Highway interchange.

• Multiple Mat Su Borough School District projects.

• Mat-Su Borough Building expansion.

• Academy Charter School design and construction.

It is exciting to see the expansion of infrastructure to meet the demands of our growing population. Inconveniences during the process may tax our patience, but Alaskans understand that if it isn’t construction season, then it is time for the snow to fly. After this last winter, I don’t know anyone who is quite ready for that.

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Planning for the future is the first step in creating successful development. The city of Palmer will have a Capital Project Fair from 4 to 7 p.m., May 17 at the MTA Events Center to introduce the city’s current projects and to receive community comment on future construction priorities.

There will be door prizes, light refreshments and a chance to talk with city leaders about what’s happening next year and beyond. Families are welcome, and displays will explain details about each nominated capital project. Adults who attend will have an opportunity to vote on projects they would like to see funded.

DeLena Johnson has been Palmer’s mayor since October 2010.