LETTER: West Susitna Road Project

West Susitna road project:

As long time off road resident of the Susitna River Basin I was alarmed to hear of the Governors intent to create yet another doomed to fail project funded by Alaskan tax payer dollars. Governor Dunleavy and the Alaska Industrial Development and Export Authority (AIDEA) are proposing a 100 mile road across one of Alaska’s largest rivers, 156 streams, and countless miles of wetlands.

The road is pitched to the public to access the Yentna Mining District. Mines owned and operated by several Canadian and Australian junior mining companies. It will negate the economic system already in place, countless lodges, freighting companies, and guides will lose their livelihood. Of course the plan then would be to build countless spur roads. With that in mind let me remind you all of the countless, State, Borough, and AIDEA boondoggles of the past.

The bridge to nowhere.

The 227 million dollar dam never built.

The railroad bed with no tracks.

The ferry that never floated.

The Pt. Mac, Dairy project.

The sea food plant that never processed fish.

The Delta Barley project

The Palmer slaughter house

These are just a few of the many failures. I am sure the back of the envelope return on investment of AIDEA must be close to zero. On December 21st the Mat-Su Borough will vote on giving AIDEA more millions to “study” the project. The public testimony so far is around 99% against the road project. I encourage all concerned residents of Alaska to contact the Borough Assembly members and the Mayor to testify before the Assembly, or to join the Susitna River Coalition on Facebook and help us fight this obvious waste of our hard earned tax payer dollars. It is time to say enough is enough!

Mike Mason

Alexander Creek