More repairs, little change for Old Glenn

The people who drive the Old Glenn Highway between the Matanuska and Knik bridges didn't get the message they wanted to hear when Department of Transportation officials came to a community meeting at Lazy Mountain Bible Church on Saturday.

"There was no real conclusion given -- we got a lot of reasons why they couldn't do what they needed to do," said Butte area resident Lucille Frey.

Frey, who publishes a neighborhood newsletter called "The Frying Pan," has been circulating a petition to deliver to state lawmakers at the beginning of the legislative session next month. The petition calls for the state to acquire necessary right of way, and to "begin upgrades no later than 2002." Frey said she had 731 signatures last week on a petition she admits is unofficial, and she expects more signatures to come in.

Frey isn't exactly fighting windmills -- DOT officials say they're aware of the Old Glenn's needs -- but it is not likely reconstruction of the road will start until 2005, according to DOT spokesman Murph O'Brien.

O'Brien said the rebuild project hasn't been designed yet, but an environmental assessment is complete and the project is part of a statewide package of jobs DOT has also been lobbying the Legislature to approve. The program would entail selling GARVEE, or Grant Anticipation Revenue Vehicle bonds. The bonds are repayable with federal-aid highway funds -- funds distributed to each state through taxes paid at the gas pump.

"We have an improved environmental document, which is a key thing," O'Brien said. "If the GARVEE is passed then we can move forward with the design and could start construction in about three years." In the meantime, DOT will be spending funds from its maintenance budget on spot repairs on the road.

Other Valley projects listed in the GARVEE package include an expansion of the Palmer-Wasilla Highway, an upgrade of the Seward Meridian Parkway, the East Bogard Road extension and improvements at Petersville Road.

The GARVEE package passed the Alaska House of Representatives last year, but was hung up in the Senate because some believed the state can't sell the bonds without a vote of the people. Some also balked at injecting $350 million worth of new projects into a construction industry that normally gets about $400 million in federal transportation dollars each year.

Rep. Scott Ogan, R-Palmer, said he believes the GARVEE bonds will pass a statewide vote if that is what the Senate wants, and that concerns about super-charging the construction economy shouldn't be a problem next session.

"DOT addressed that," Ogan said, "and the contractors are saying 'bring it on.'"

In the meantime, O'Brien said maintenance workers will address specific parts of the Old Glenn, such as the area along Bodenburg Creek where the Palmer-bound lane is sinking and tilted toward the guard rail. At last week's meeting, DOT officials confirmed what the Butte residents suspected -- the guard rail structure is encouraging the road to slump.

O'Brien said guard rails are required because of the creek, but the guard rail collects snow and causes extra water to seep into the subsurface of the road so erosion in the area is uneven.

"When you put in a guard rail, it solves some issues and creates other issues, and that's the story of guard rails in a lot of places," O'Brien said.