Water-main project slows Glenn

February 21, 2006

DAWN DE BUSK\Frontiersman reporter

PALMER - Caitlin Richmond, who works an evening shift as a waitress at Noisy Goose Café, shares a common complaint with co-workers and customers who travel the Glenn Highway from the direction of Wasilla.

Construction of the city of Palmer's water and sewer main around Mile 40 Glenn Hwy. - even though it's taking place in a ditch - has been creating traffic delays.

&#8220Today I had to stop for about a minute. It wasn't long, but it was frustrating. People are going a lot slower than 45,” Richmond said.

The installation of the city of Palmer's water and sewer mains, to service Mat-Su Regional Medical Center, includes some pipes crossing under the Alaska Railroad tracks, according to Palmer Public Works Director Rick Koch. The narrow shoulders along the stretch of highway near the Alaska State Fairgrounds have caused heavy machinery to jut out into the road, and so there are reduced speed zones, Koch said.

&#8220A 10-mile-an-hour reduction in traffic isn't that bad considering what's happening. The amount of delay is so slight that I doubt anyone would go out of their way to avoid it,” he said.

The contractor doing the construction, International Bridge Corp., will probably complete the project by late March because the railroad's gravel train starts running April 15, Koch said.

However, some people living or working on Outer Springer Loop and Grandview Avenue may experience some delays, but only for a few days, he said.

&#8220There's a couple side streets that we'll have to dig up. Then, people may have to detour,” Koch said. &#8220I think they'll try to have half the road open.”

Contact Dawn De Busk at 352-2252 or dawn.debusk@frontiersman.com.