Signage, web cam to aid Springer Loop residents

PALMER — For years, residents of the Springer Loop system have lived on the wrong side of the tracks.

Unlike the old saw about bad neighborhoods, in this case the tracks are literal, not metaphorical. Also unlike that saying, things could be changing soon.

The Alaska Railroad, Alaska Department of Transportation and Public Facilities and Anchorage Sand and Gravel are working cooperatively to install changeable signs near the intersection of the Alaska rail corridor that, in the past, has stranded residents on the Glenn Highway side of an Alaska Railroad corridor which runs past the Alaska State Fairgrounds and through the heart of town.

Trains of gravel and sand from a nearby pit, bound for Anchorage, often load on the tracks and stray across the intersection of Outer Springer Loop and the Glenn near McLeod Lake. Motorists bound for the Glenn Highway from roads in the neighborhood, like McLeod Road and Kaye Marie Drive, would thus drive to the intersection, spy the train, and be forced to back track to Inner Springer Loop to reach the Glenn, officials say. Signs reading “Road Closed at the Xing” installed at two intersections near the McLeod and Kaye Marie intersections with Outer Springer aim to fix the problem, according to all three agencies.

Local residents originally contacted the railroad and the offices of Rep. Shelley Hughes.

“It’ll be a team effort,” said Anchorage Sand and Gravel Operations Manager Ryan Morman. “Being brand new, everybody’s getting the process dialed in. The railroad will be responsible for putting the sign up in the morning, and we’ll be responsible for changing it back at night.”

In addition, information about the status of the intersection will be available via the 511.alaska.gov website and via phone line and mobile phone app.

In addition, the Anchorage Sand and Gravel is paying — though the company is coy about how much they’re spending — to install a web camera facing the intersection, which will be available via the 511 traffic information website as well as the mobile application, Morman said.

The gravel pit has been in continuous operation since 1974, Morman said.

The pit has seen periods of sporadic heavy activity followed by periods of decreased activity, while at the same time, residential development along the loop system has increased, according to Department of Transportation spokeswoman Jill Reese. That leads to increased traffic, which in turn creates demand for the measures, she said.

“It’s a combination of things with the growth of the community and new neighbors,” she said.

The Alaska Railroad was happy to play a role, said spokesman Tim Sullivan.

“It’s a great opportunity to work with the public, Representative Hughes, the DOT and Sand and Gravel to try and find solutions to mitigate the inconvenience for the neighbors,” he said.

Contact Brian O’Connor at 352-2269 or brian.oconnor@frontiersman.com