Summer of construction 2021: DOT Highway Design Chief updates Assembly on projects

PALMER — Alaska Department of Transportation Highway Design Chief Jim Amundsen has a unique introduction anytime he speaks to the Mat-Su Borough Assembly. On June 15, Amundsen repeated his oft-uttered admission.

“I’m the Chief of Highway Design with the Alaska DOT and it is my fault,” said Amundsen.

Amundsen rapidly presented a number of construction projects that are of a high interest to Mat-Su Valley residents traveling through construction on the roadway this summer. Amundsen noted that seven road repair projects remain from the November 2018 earthquake. Of those seven projects, five are on Point Mackenzie Road, one is on Vine Road and another on Settlers Bay Drive.

“The status of the Mat-Su Borough road repairs for earthquake repair in nutshell, that’s going to be getting fixed next spring. They are at about 90 percent design now, they’re just getting ready to advertise it. We just got to where the 90 percent design package was being reviewed, now the meeting is on the 22nd. We’ll be actually doing the review and soon as we can, get the comments addressed. It’ll then be sent out for advertising,” said Amundsen.

Much of the repairs to Point Mackenzie Road involve reconstructing the road embankment. The repairs are funded by the Federal Highway Administration, state and local funds to bring the sites to pre-earthquake conditions, with an estimated cost between $6 and 9 million.

Mayor Vern Halter asked Amundsen about the ongoing resurfacing work on the Parks Highway.

“It is already contracted and underway. They are already busy replacing curb ramps as I speak,” said Amundsen. “It will be going from Seward Meridian all the way down to Lucus Road. They’re going to be resurfacing that whole stretch.”

Phase II of the Seward-Meridian Parkway improvements will widen to four travel lanes with a center auxiliary lane for left turns, with an extension of the roadway for one mile from Bogard to Seldon.

“We are rapidly getting to the end of the design project on this one. We had a 95 percent plan review, we are moving forward very quickly on getting the last of the edits, corrections and changes done. Probably the single most significant issue still being chewed on is where Tambert Drive intersects with Seward-Meridian and we’re looking at consolidating an access to the schools which will also consolidate the traffic enough to justify a traffic signal. That’s still being worked as I speak,” said Amundsen.

After long awaited improvements on one of the Valley’s most highly traveled roadways, Knik-Goose Bay Road is set to undergo construction late this summer.

“Right now that’s on track for probably late this summer, early fall of this year with the bulk of the project firing up, the actual construction early next spring with some of the utility relocates probably happening this winter,” said Amundsen.