P-W Highway expansion 10 years out

May 19, 2006

By DARRELL L. BREESE

Frontiersman

MAT-SU - The need to improve the Palmer-Wasilla Highway becomes more evident every day, as people flock to the Valley bringing more traffic to the main connector road between the communities of Palmer and Wasilla.

Traffic congestion and safety along the highway has led Mat-Su Borough officials to place upgrading the 10 mile stretch atop its list of state highway projects in the borough's 2007-2012 capital improvement list.

Despite the high priority, it may take 10 years for construction to start on the expansion to four traffic lanes, according to state Department of Transportation Mat-Su planner Brad Sworts.

&#8220Ten years is an optimistic prediction,” Sworts said. &#8220Environmental impact studies are slated to begin this summer, and that could take as long as three years. Then the design phase could last another three years. Right-of-way acquisition another three. Those are very optimistic projections for a project of this scope. Then the project will most likely be done in phases, meaning several years of construction.”

Recent counts on the highway indicate that traffic has increased 50 percent over the past 10 years, creating the need for either a major capacity improvement or construction of another parallel route.

Murph O'Brien, borough planning and land use director, said the plan indicates a two-pronged approach to congestion and needed improvements.

&#8220Right now, we're looking at making some interim improvements, such as adding traffic signals,” O'Brien said. &#8220The long-term approach is to expand the highway to a four-or-five-lane express way.”

To that end, the Legislature has approved $18 million to pay for the traffic signals and the environmental study.

Sworts is working on a study to determine what is the best option for expanding the road.

&#8220The plan calls for four traffic lanes,” Sworts said. &#8220Whether that be a divided four-lane road or four lanes with a center turn lane has yet to be determined. What will actually best serve the community will be determined when the study we're working on is completed.”

The cost to complete the project is a target that is hard to pin down with the rising cost of gas and construction materials.

&#8220The last cost estimate done was in May of 2000,” Sworts said. &#8220Back then, it was projected as an $80 million project. I guess you could take that $80 million and add inflation to come up with what it will cost today.”

Local legislators recently made their best guess as to what it would cost. Their estimates ranged from $150 to $300 million.

&#8220The high cost and heavy traffic flow will likely mean the project will be done in phases,” Sworts said. &#8220Right now, the Palmer end is carrying the heaviest traffic load and is the likely starting point for the project. Then over next four or five years, the entire road would be upgraded.”

In the meantime, the borough is working on developing alternative routes to relieve congestion.

&#8220The alternates, such as the Bogard-Seldon extension, are very important to the future of moving traffic in the borough,” O'Brien said. &#8220Not only will it give residents another route, it should lower congestion.

&#8220Our long-range plan shows a need for several significant improvements and road expansions to ensure traffic flows smoothly and safely,” O'Brien continued. &#8220The Palmer-Wasilla Highway is just one piece of the puzzle.”

Contact Darrell L. Breese at 352-2267 or at darrell.breese@ frontiersman.com.