Road construction across Alaska: what's on the STIP this summer--new roads, rehabs, and industrial ideas.

• Author: White, Rindi
• Position: SPECIAL SECTION: Building Alaska

"We're warning people that they should plan additional travel time when traveling the Parks this year."

--Meadow Bailey Northern Region Spokeswoman, DOT&PF

Traveling in Alaska this summer? Expect delays. The Alaska Department of Transportation and Public Facilities (DOT&PF) is bracing for one of the busiest construction seasons in recent history in both its Central region, which includes Anchorage and Mat-Su, and its Northern region, which includes from near Healy north to Prudhoe Bay.

One of the major construction corridors this summer will be the busy Parks Highway. Ten construction projects of varying degrees are planned along its length. State transportation officials say contractors have been asked to limit delays to travelers, but with several projects running concurrently, even short delays will add up.

"We're warning people that they should plan additional travel time when traveling the Parks this year," says the department's Northern region spokeswoman Meadow Bailey.

Bailey says the timing of the projects was more coincidence than planned. Central region construction engineer Tom Dougherty says a few Parks Highway projects in the Mat-Su were put off until later to spare travelers additional delays along the Parks.

Parks Highway Plans

The work planned along the Parks Highway includes a variety of projects, from a $21 million realignment at Broad Pass, Mile 194 of the Parks Highway, to adding centerline rumble strips for $593,000 along fifty-one miles of the highway, between Mile 305 and 356.

The centerline rumble strips are aimed at reducing vehicle crashes. DOT&PF data shows there were sixteen crashes in the project area, including one fatality, in which drivers crossed the centerline. Specialized Pavement Markings, Inc. was selected as the contractor on this project.

The Broad Pass realignment will eliminate an "S" curve, add a new bridge across the middle fork of the Chulitna River and remove an at-grade railroad crossing, one of few remaining on the Parks Highway. Instead, vehicles will travel on a bridge over the railroad. The contractor for the project is Quality Asphalt and Paving, Inc.

A thirteen-mile road rehabilitation project between Mile 239 and 252 Parks Highway near Healy might be the source of the longest delays for travelers--up to 45 minutes. The highway will be rehabilitated and widened through that stretch with new culverts, drainage, and two new passing lanes added. According to DOT&PF, this section includes several areas that require frequent pavement patches. The project will improve both the road base and drainage to keep the new road stable. Quality Asphalt Paving, Inc. won the bid on this $32 million project. It is expected to continue through this construction season and next, with wrap-up in September 2015.

Another major push along the Parks Highway this year is adding passing lanes in six locations to allow traffic to pass slower-moving vehicles safely and reduce crashes. This $30 million project is also expected to extend over two construction seasons, with wrap-up in fall 2015. Great Northwest, Inc. was selected as the contractor for this project. According to DOT&PF, travelers can expect delays of up to fifty minutes through the project.

A few Parks...