Seldon Road extension enters next phase to connect Palmer to Meadow Lakes

The Matanuska Susitna Borough (MSB) recently announced Phase II of the Seldon Road extension.

The purpose of the Phase II project is to complete the work that began with the Seldon Road Extension, Phase I, and connect Palmer to Meadow Lakes along the Seldon Road corridor.

The first phase, completed in 2015, went from Church Road to Windy Bottom Road. The second phase will complete the connection to Pittman Road in Meadow Lakes, divrerting traffic from Beverly Lakes Road, which many commuters use now.

A typical section of roadway would include two 12’-wide travel lanes, 8’ shoulders and a separated pathway, similar to the previous road construction.

The benefits of this extension include improvements to area circulation, shortening the commute times for residents in Meadow Lakes traveling to Wasilla, while also providing an alternate route to the Parks Highway. It would also shorten response times for first responders and emergency vehicles.

The project team recently completed a Categorical Exclusion (CE) environmental document that will allow the project to advance through final design.

The project is moving into the final stages of development. The current design is consistent with the plan the Mat-Su Borough completed in 2019.

Right-of-way acquisition is on schedule to proceed later this year, and construction is expected to begin in 2024, contingent on funding timing, utility agreements, right-of-way, and other items.

Phase 1 opened Wednesday, July 29, 2015. Construction on the new road finished ahead of schedule. Originally scheduled to open in September, it opened while the finishing touches were completed. A preferred Phase 2 Alignment was selected and confirmed by the Mat-Su Assembly.

In 2020, the Mat-Su Borough was awarded a matching grant from the Federal Highway Administration to complete the project. Project management has been transferred to the Alaska Department of Transportation & Public Facilities to complete the remaining work including design, Right-of-Way, and construction.

For more information and the project Design Status Report, visit www.seldon-phase2.com.