Eklutna Lake road, campground get paving

EKLUTNA LAKE -- Visitors to this state park just off the Glenn Highway no longer must endure the dusty conditions of past summers, thanks to a $4 million paving project.

The road through the campground and picnic area has been paved. Plans call for the 8.5-mile entrance road from the water treatment plant to the lake to be paved by September.

"It will make a nice drive going up to the lake," said Dan Amyot, Chugach State Park's northern ranger. "It will be free of dust and potholes. We're already seeing the benefits of not having dust kicked up whenever someone drives through the campground."

Ninety-three percent of the cost will be paid by federal money with the rest coming from state funds, said Alaska Department of Transportation spokesman Murph O'Brien.

"We're rebuilding the roadbed, widening it out so there are two lanes with shoulders," he said. "We're pretty much reconstructing it. It's not a small project."

Construction crews are working 12 or 13 hours a day Monday through Thursday, and until 6 p.m. Friday. Work is suspended over the weekend and resumes again early Monday.

Paving is expected to reduce the Department of Transportation's maintenance costs for the road.

"The downside is that we'll see increased visitation because it will be an easier road to travel," Amyot said.

A record number of vehicles -- 30,000 -- were recorded at Eklutna Lake last year. That was up from the previous high of 25,000 vehicles in 1998.

Amyot is bracing for lots more users in 2004 when the traditionally bumpy road with washboard and potholes is a smooth surface. The tight state budget won't allow increased staffing to offset larger crowds, he said.

"The Little Su landing saw a tremendous increase in use when it was paved to the T intersection at Point MacKenzie," Amyot said. "I expect to see an onslaught of visitors. The problem is, I have limited parking and camping. There may be a point that we are so full we have to stop letting people in."

The new road may have an impact on residential development, too. Amyot believes the smoother commute route will spur more houses to be built on private property in the Eklutna Valley area.

"It has the potential to change the valley," he said.