Patience a virtue for Wasilla motorists

August 17, 2007

By Chris Gillow

Frontiersman

MAT-SU - Side streets and slow speed is the preferred, and required, method of travel on local roads as the state Department of Transportation continues its effort to enhance the driving experience in Wasilla.

Construction is underway on the Parks Highway, Bogard Road and Crusey Street in an effort expected to, when finished, protect drivers and ease congestion.

&#8220The Parks has really poor pavement,” said Archie Giddings, Wasilla public works director. &#8220When it rains you get extra hydroplaning because water gets in the grooves. So it can be kind of dangerous.”

To fix the problem, crews will remove the asphalt and underlying gravel from Mile 42 to Mile 44, Giddings said. After that, compacted gravel and new asphalt are installed and the highway will be back to normal.

Safety is the main reason for roadwork on the Parks Highway, but it's not the only justification for work on Crusey Street, said Todd Smith, a project engineer for the DOT. As the student body of Wasilla High School increases and more businesses sprout alongside of Crusey Street and Bogard Road, relieving congestion is a top priority at the busy intersection.

&#8220We're updating Crusey to a five lane street, with new curbs, gutters and streetlighting,” Smith said. &#8220We're also creating a new approach into Wasilla High School. The approach will replace the offset pool entrance, which will create a four-way signal stop at the intersection of Bogard and Crusey.”

As construction continues through the summer, drivers will encounter detours and slow traffic, but long delays should not be a problem, Smith said.

&#8220It's been backed up a little bit, especially in the morning and after work,” said Robert Wright, a Mat-Su Valley motorist. &#8220You're kind-of locked in sometimes.”

While local drivers may have to spend more time on the road dodging construction cones and dipping into detours, many businesses along the construction lanes report business is about the same.

&#8220We're not loosing any business because of it,” said Vince Warner, a customer service associate at Tesoro Alaska along the Parks Highway near Main Street in Wasilla. &#8220People are still coming here.”

The cost of the project, which includes the Parks Highway, Crusey Street and Bogard Road, is estimated at $10.1 million, Smith said. The estimate also includes stoplights that will be placed at the intersection of Nelson Avenue and Lucille Street, and the Parks Highway and Lucille Street in the near future.

While driving through road construction can be frustrating and time consuming, the big picture is a better one, Smith said. By Sept. 15, Parks Highway roadwork will be finished, and by the end of September most of the work on Crusey Street will be completed.

Contact Chris Gillow at 352-2284 or chris.gillow@frontiersman.com.