Highways and byways …

Frontiersman editorial board

Valley roads are one of the single most unifying aspects of Valley life. No matter where you live in the Valley, it's likely you face traffic frustrations on at least a seasonal basis, if not daily. With two of Alaska's major traffic arteries filtering thousands of vehicles through the Valley every day, traffic woes are inevitable.

It doesn't help that the agency dedicated to managing traffic statewide is making do with the same operations and maintenance budget it had 15 years ago. With the higher cost of machinery and maintenance staples such as sand and gravel, it's difficult to make ends meet. And so, many roads now are served with a roving maintenance crew that simply isn't as responsive as dedicated staff.

When less maintenance is combined with more traffic, it's a no-win situation. Problems creep up quickly and simply cannot be dealt with in a timely fashion. Roads generally paved hours after a snow may still be clogged in the white stuff two days later.

Add to this mix a nearly 20-year backlog of needed construction projects and one can get an idea of just how frustrating it can be to be the man in charge of the Alaska Department of Transportation.

It's commendable that Joe Perkins ventures into the public on a yearly basis -- not just to tout upcoming projects or programs, but to meet with residents about their concerns. Not just to talk, but to listen. In a business where what's done is never enough and always done in an inconceivably slow manner, venturing into the public is never easy and sometimes dangerous. When people depend on roads for their daily needs, it can get personal.

Shaking hands with the public on a regular basis can be a boon to Perkins as well. Presenting information to people who are already educated about the long and often tiresome process one must endure in order to enjoy a paved or even upgraded road is much easier than trying to start discussions with a hostile and uninformed public.

But Perkins can't take all the credit for informing Valley residents about upcoming road issues -- his staff designated to deal with road issues facing this area works hard to make sure Valley residents know what's on the transportation horizon, and they are more than willing to discuss road issues.

Kudos to Dave Post, Murph O'Brien and the other DOT staff members who regularly appear at informational meetings across the Valley. Their job may not be easy, but they are as dedicated to providing good information about Valley roads as Valley residents are to complaining about those roads.