Under construction

Hatcher Pass road work snarls traffic, travelers' plans

HATCHER PASS — In one of the Valley's most popular hiking areas, just getting to the trailhead is going to require some additional endurance this summer.

The Palmer side of Hatcher Pass is a hectic place, and not just because of all the local hikers, berry pickers and out-of-town tourists who swarm to the hillsides each summer. Added into the mix this season are heavy equipment, flag people, pilot cars and a road project that is keeping visitors waiting for 20 to 30 minutes at the bridge over the Little Susitna River. That is when they can get through at all.

"We just ask people to try to be patient with the construction," said Tom Trammell, project engineer with the Alaska Department of Transportation. "There's not much we can do about it."

Following weeks of the road being closed at the beginning of the summer season because of rock slides, access to Hatcher Pass is now confined to a few hours each day. During the remainder of June, pilot cars are available to escort visitors through the construction from 10 a.m. to noon and 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. Monday through Thursday.

On Fridays, pilot cars run from 10 a.m. to noon, and from 4 p.m. Friday through 6 a.m. Monday the road is open.

Any other time, the road is closed. This means that in addition to a wait at the bottom of the hill, people should also expect to have to tailor their excursions to the pilot car schedule.

"It depends on why you're up there," said Dale Bingham, area superintendent with Alaska State Parks. For those who are just interested in a drive and getting out to stretch their legs and take in the view at the top, it will be easy to turn around and catch the next pilot car down.

But Bingham said people need to make sure they don't lose track of the time, which is easy to do during a day hike. He said he doesn't want visitors to realize, "Oh no. I missed the 5-to-7 pilot car and now I'm going to have to stay up here all night."

The July schedule for pilot cars will depend on what is going on with the project, Trammell said, but he added that they will most likely change from this month. People who want to plan ahead can call (866) 540-7283 to get the most up-to-date report on the road work.

The goal is to pave and realign Hatcher Pass road up to Motherlode Lodge by the end of September. The second phase of the work, from the lodge up to Independence Mine, is expected to begin next season.

While the road work is interrupting the normal flow of between 45,000 and 60,000 visitors who travel to the area each summer, state officials say 90 percent of people are patient. Some people turn around at the Little Su bridge when they discover they have to wait for the pilot car, but many more stick around, Trammell said.

But road work isn't the only intrusion into the Hatcher Pass area — Independence Mine State Historical Park is entering its second summer of construction. While this will eventually result in paved trails around the mine, new viewing platforms, more interpretive signs and other improvements, for now it has entirely closed down the historical park for the second consecutive year.

"Because of safety, we have to keep people out of the construction zone," Bingham said. While visitors can still park in the lot near Hatcher Pass Lodge, the road is closed from the entrance booth on. People cannot access the visitor center or mining camp. No tours of the historical buildings will be available this summer. No day-use parking fees are being charged.

The rest of the valley east of the Gold Cord Road remains open to hiking, however.

Bingham said he has heard from a number of out-of-town tourists who are unhappy with the closure.

"And I apologize for this, but these projects are really important," he said. "They will provide for a much better experience in the future."

And while some people are turning around and heading back home when they hear the news about the road work and park closure, Bingham said Hatcher Pass continues to be a popular visitor destination.

"We get a tremendous amount of people still coming up there," Bingham said. "For those who have the time and patience . . . it's still a great place to go."

Bingham said he hopes the mine area will open to visitors before the end of this summer season. Like the road work, the state park project has two phases, so people should expect continued construction next season.

Bingham said $4 million in federal grants is allowing the state to build scenic pull-offs, improve parking lots and add bathrooms and picnic areas along Hatcher Pass road next summer, in addition to the work at the mine itself this year.

Despite the ongoing projects, Bingham said the road over the pass to the Willow side is expected to open about the same time it does every year — around July 4.

State officials appear to be optimistic that visitors will continue to flock to Hatcher Pass this summer, but the owners of businesses in the area say they are being drastically affected by the road closures and construction. The owners of Hatcher Pass and Motherlode lodges continue to negotiate with the state Division of Risk Management in hopes of receiving some compensation for their loss of business.