Study, property acquisitions delay Trunk Road realignment project

DAWN De BUSK/Frontiersman reporter

MAT-SU - A lengthy environmental impact study and acquisition of rights of way have contributed in delaying - possibly by two years - any construction to straighten and widen Trunk Road.

The long-discussed proposed improvements to Trunk Road include turning the road into a four-lane highway between the Parks Highway and Bogard Road and then keeping it as a two-lane road from Bogard to Palmer-Fishhook Road.

The upgrades would also improve the geometry of the winding road. All the improvements are aimed at making Trunk Road capable of handling a greater volume of traffic.

The environmental-impact analysis for Trunk Road went on for seven years, and cost $2.5 million, according to Judy Dougherty, Department of Transportation & Public Facilities design section project manager.

"The environmental impact study process was longer than other projects. When looking at a brand-new alignment rather than improving an existing road, it takes longer," she said, adding that the study took into consideration wetlands, fish habitat, increased noise and the human environment.

Although funding for Trunk Road construction will become available in 2006, the project - estimated by DOT to cost between $15 million and $20 million - may not be at that stage next year.

"I don't think we'll be ready for construction until 2007, and that's because of the right-of-way acquisitions," Dougherty said.

About 50 property owners affected by the Trunk Road changes will be contacted his summer. As is the procedure, DOT will appraise their property, engage in negotiations and seek to pay fair market price for each parcel. DOT has been allotted $4.5 million to purchase rights of way along Trunk Road.

This process may take even longer if some homeowners have to be relocated because the proposed Trunk Road route would pass through their property in such a way as to make their homes uninhabitable.

"Just getting into the right-of-way acquisitions takes a year or two," said Brad Swortz, DOT Mat-Su area planner.

He said the completed environmental impact study will be released, and road designs, or "plans in hands," will be done in late March or early April. Then, the designs will go before the public, for its input.

"The design process can actually go quite quickly," Dougherty said.

Contact Dawn De Busk at 352-2252.