Future still unknown for Bogard Road extension

MAT-SU — A planned Bogard Road extension continues on an administrative roundtable as officials attempt to find a preferred route.

Extending Bogard Road from the Glenn Highway to 49th State Street would give the Mat-Su Valley another major east-west thoroughfare and could help alleviate congestion on the Palmer-Wasilla Highway, the Mat-Su Borough’s Long-range Transportation Plan says. A preliminary report for the project shows potential routes for Bogard east from the Glenn Highway could place it close to some local neighborhoods like Equestrian Acres.

While the public clamors for the project to move forward, public opposition has stalled the plan. That work hasn’t begun on extending Bogard Road isn’t from a lack of urgency on the Borough’s part, said Brad Sworts, division manager for the Mat-Su Borough’s division of transportation planning and environment.

The Palmer -Wasilla Highway already experiences more than its suggested capacity for a two-lane road, Sworts said. Nearly 18,000 vehicles travel the highway each day, which is 8,000 more vehicles than a two-lane highway of its size should have.

“Once you reach 10,000 vehicles a day you need to start thinking about upgrading to a four-lane road,” Sworts said.

Extending Bogard Road will help relieve congestion, but many residents living in the extension area are posting concerns and comments about the road on the project’s Web site, he said. With 41 pages of comments for and against the road, residents are addressing everything from the proximity of houses to the road to fears the Borough would be creating a drag strip between Colony and Palmer High Schools.

Kristi Stuller, a public involvement planner for DOWL Engineers, said she doesn’t believe it is uncommon for residents to be concerned about a new road, because any development near homes could be controversial for homeowners.

Whether the road will run north or south of Palmer High School has been one of the sticking points, designers have said. The state approved $12.6 million for the $36 million project in 2005, and the design phase is $800,000. Work could begin in 2009.

The Borough assembly won’t make a decision on any route the road could take until after the planning team holds a meeting to brainstorm ideas with the public, Sworts said. Although a date has not been set for the meeting, it should happen within the next two to three weeks.

“I wouldn’t call it a set-back [for the project]; just further work to be done to address issues brought forward by the public,” he said.

Find more information about the Bogard Road Extension at www.bogardroad.com.

Contact Chris Gillow at chris.gillow@frontiersman.com or 352-2284.