Public to weigh in on Parks Highway upgrades

February 21, 2006

JOEL DAVIDSON\Frontiersman reporter

WASILLA - Mat-Su residents can weigh in Thursday on the future development of the Parks Highway, from Lucus Road west to Big Lake Road.

The Alaska Department of Transportation project is at least another five years in the future, but project manager Dennis Linnell, of design firm Hattenberg Dilley & Linnell, said plans are moving forward to upgrade the heavily traveled road.

&#8220We are looking at a divided four-lane road with a center median,” Linnell said.

The current plan also calls for intersections every half mile, with left turning lanes in the median and options for U-turns, Linnell said. Stoplights are not a part of the design at this point, but could be added later as needed.

Unlike the new frontage roads that run parallel to the Parks as it heads east out of Wasilla, the road west is set to use current frontage roads without extending them.

According to the plan, paved pathways similar to the current ones would extend parallel to the road.

A proposed 30-foot-wide grass median that would separate the four lanes into two eastbound and two westbound lanes is not expected to be landscaped with trees, Linnell said.

&#8220I don't think we would put trees in it,” he said. &#8220You might get some smaller landscaping, but trees introduce moose problems.”

In terms of the actual layout, the plan is to extend the five-lane highway out of Wasilla to Church Road. From there to Big Lake Road, the highway would split into two double lanes.

While construction on the Parks Highway is still a half-decade away, Linnell said the public comment period is a crucial step forward.

&#8220From comments from our first public meeting a year ago, I think this plan meets most of the needs that we heard,” he said. &#8220This is the first time the public is seeing these new plans, and we want to get their input.”

The public meeting takes place Thursday, 6-8 p.m., at the Wasilla Multi-Use Sports Complex. For more information, log onto www.parkshighway44-52.info or call Linnell at (907) 564-2106.

Upcoming steps for the highway upgrades include completing an environmental assessment, finalizing design and acquiring rights of way.

Contact Joel Davidson at 352-2266 or joel.davidson@frontiersman.com.