2018 Summer Construction Round-Up: New, ongoing, and planned projects.

• Author: Mottl, Judy
• Position: Building Alaska

Alaska's engineers, architects, contractors, and designers provide updates on new and ongoing infrastructure projects, building developments, airport projects, and school building efforts for the upcoming summer construction season.

Road/Highway Projects

Area Signal Upgrades in Fairbanks The Alaska Department of Transportation and Public Facilities (DOT&PF) is constructing signal upgrades at fifty-five intersections throughout the Fairbanks area. Lounsbury & Associates and engineering firm EDC provided traffic engineering and design for flashing yellow arrow operations, high visibility signal heads, and ADA accessibility improvements. Lounsbury also completed survey and ground penetrating radar to help DOT&PF avoid underground utility conflicts. Combining recommendations of four separate Highway Safety Improvement Program nominations, the project will be completed in two stages. Construction of stage 1 started in 2017 and is expected to be substantially complete this year. HC Contractors has the $14 million contract for stage 1. Construction of stage 2 is expected to start in 2019.

100th Avenue Rehab

Phase 2 of the 100th Avenue connection project in Anchorage (between Minnesota Drive and C Street), designed by Stantec, resumed in May. The project includes two roundabouts at the Minnesota Drive interchange, which were constructed last summer, and construction of the roadway between Minnesota Drive and C Street. This arterial roadway will have three lanes, five-foot shoulders, separated multiuse pathways on both sides of the road, and continuous LED lighting over its length. The estimated cost of the project is between $5 million and $10 million. the contractor is Mass Excavation. The expected completion date is August of this year.

Sterling Highway Shoulder from MP 97 to MP 118

DOT&PF is constructing a Highway Safety Improvement Program project on Sterling Highway between Soldotna and Clam Gulch. The widened shoulders will provide a significant safety improvement and reduce single vehicle run-off-the-road, sideswipes, and head-on crashes. The project will widen the highway shoulders, construct rumble strips, incorporate a pavement safety edge, add delineators, upgrade guardrails, and improve signage. Lounsbury provided survey and engineering services to design highway widening and drainage improvements. Fish passage improvements at four stream crossings, including Crooked Creek and Coal Creek, will also be constructed.

Granite Construction Company was awarded the S29 million project and construction begins this year.

North Pole Water System Expansion

Stantec is serving as engineer and Exclusive Paving is the contractor on a thirty-four mile expansion of the water main in North Pole. The $52 million project, which began in February and is slated to finish in 2019, includes 181,000 feet of insulated water mains to expand water supply to more than 650 properties in and around the city. The project includes expansion of the existing water treatment plant, a new 750,000-gallon water reservoir, and a new water system pump house.

Midtown Corridor Improvements

R&M is leading the planning, public involvement, and engineering design for midtown corridor improvements in Anchorage, from the Denali Street area to Benson to Tudor Road, that will update 1.5 miles of arterial roadway in...