New life for bridge across Arm

Maybe new life isn’t quite right, but certainly there’s an opening for those who still think the Knik Arm Bridge should be a part of Southcentral’s near future.

When the cities of Wasilla and Houston filed suit in June to delay a vote by an Anchorage transportation committee to put the bridge on its long-term project list, instead of its short list, the battle seemed an uphill one. Particularly since its short-term mayor then, Matt Claman, had indicated he was opposed. The Anchorage mayor has a seat and a vote. It appeared to the Valley leaders the Anchorage Metropolitan Area Transportation Solutions committee was trying to get the vote through before now Mayor Dan Sullivan could get in because Sullivan has indicated he might favor the bridge.

Well, the Anchorage folks went ahead and voted to put the bridge on the long-term list, despite the objections of the cities on the other end of the controversial bridge concept.

So there was some political and legal wrangling that ended in July when an Anchorage judge said he would ponder the Valley request, and not allow any action by the Anchorage transportation committee until he made a decision.

Apparently sometime Tuesday afternoon Wasilla and Houston, along with the Knik Arm Bridge and Toll Authority, got what they wanted without a shot being fired.

The Anchorage transportation committee agreed to rescind its vote.

That doesn’t mean that committee can’t later to do what it wants anyway, but there are agreements that there will be at least 30 days notice of any vote so the Valley cities, KABATA and anyone else can voice their concerns.

And that’s only right. Sometimes it seems like people in Anchorage only care about themselves.

The Glenn Highway is already an umbilical cord connecting the two communities together in commerce, crime, land vs. jobs, recreation and sundry other items.

The bridge, undoubtedly, would have a great affect on the Knik-Goose Bay area and north to Houston and Willow with housing, business and heavy truck traffic. Wasilla might actually get a little traffic relief if the road bypasses the main drag. Palmer will benefit the least, and since that city wasn’t involved, that might suit those folks just fine.

Now, with an agreement in place, people can get back to work deciding if the bridge should be built, not waiting until 2018 to start over just because a handful of Anchorage politicians got their way.