Parks Highway construction paves way to good things in the Valley

Frontiersman editorial board

While there was some of the usual discomfort and a bit of grumbling over the summer as commuters and weekend travelers made their way through the construction zone along the Parks Highway, things could have been much worse -- and could have lasted much longer. The construction job handled by Wilder Construction and the Department of Transportation came in way under the deadline wire -- a full year ahead of schedule.

It's true that traffic bunched up and slowed down through the construction zone at times, and sometimes it even came to a stop. However, the use of the frontage roads to divert traffic around the most extensive portions of the project meant that, by and large, the cars kept moving. On other large projects like this one, that access road option is not available, so only one side of the road can be worked at a time, and traffic is forced to switch back and forth between the still-open portions of roadway. In those situations, northbound traffic must be stopped to allow southbound traffic to pass, and vice versa. That makes for a long haul for commuters, and it slows the project down, as well.

For those who have driven the new stretch of road, many will agree that the few delays and inconveniences over the past two construction seasons were well worth it. It's a nice stretch of road with two smooth lanes in both directions. It's also well-lit, though a few of the lights are set back a bit from the roadway. DOT officials already plan to change the heads on those lights to avoid any problems for night-time drivers.

The overpass at Hyer road is a nice piece of engineering and construction, and traffic patterns there should also make interchanges and access to businesses along the Parks much easier, too.

At the ceremony to open the new roadway last Wednesday, DOT officials and workers, Wilder Construction people and local leaders were beaming about the early completion and the quality of the work. They deserved a day of beaming. Hats off to Commissioner Joe Perkins and the DOT and to Wilder construction and also to the public officials who worked hard to bring that project to fruition. If the next stretch along the Parks Highway goes as well, the entire Valley will have something to beam about. This was a great example of how things can be done in the Mat-Su. It's a positive hint of more good things to come as our community continues to grow.