A season in flux: projects on the horizon could affect construction plans.

• Author: Orr, Vanessa

Each year, the end of winter signals the start of construction season in Alaska. And while 2007 is shaping up to be a very good year with construction spending remaining heavy, it is also turning out to be a very fluid year, with potential projects such as the natural gas pipeline, the Knik Arm Crossing and the Gravina Island Bridge affecting overall plans for the season.

THE NATURAL GAS PIPELINE

The wild card in any discussion about Alaska's upcoming construction season is the natural gas pipeline. Until it is determined who will build it, where it will be built and even if it will be built, construction companies and private-sector investors may be holding off on making big project decisions.

"Until a decision is made on the natural gas pipeline, we'll see a slowdown in private investment," explained Dick Cattanach, executive director, Associated General Contractors of Alaska (AGC). "It probably won't affect projects in 2007 because those contracts have already been signed, but it will affect projects in the future. People will wait to see what happens because they don't want to be left holding the bag on an investment if the gas line issues aren't settled and the state misses its window of opportunity.

"Waiting a year may cost developers more because of inflation, but it will also help them determine whether or not to go forward," he added.

Still, some organizations, like Alaska's Department of Transportation (DOT), need to prepare now in case the gas pipeline project does go through. "The first thing we did was look at the critical components of Alaska's major transportation routes to determine what needs to be done," said John MacKinnon, deputy commissioner, Highways and Facilities, Alaska Department of Transportation. "We looked at all of the likely routes which will be used to transport materials for the pipeline, including the Richardson Highway, Parks Highway and Alaska Railroad."

Once the most likely transportation links were determined, DOT reviewed the condition of these roads and made plans to make needed replacements or repairs. "There were a number of bridges that needed work, including the Washington Creek Bridge on the Dalton Highway and the Shaw Creek Bridge on the Richardson Highway," said MacKinnon. "We are also redecking the Yukon River Bridge, which was built for the oil pipeline, though the gas line may or may not be on this same structure." Other bridges that are on DOT's agenda include a $30 million complete replacement of the Tanana River Bridge on the Alaska Highway and work on the Chilkat River Bridge on the Haines Highway.

To help reduce traffic issues on certain routes, DOT is also constructing passing lanes on the Richardson Highway between Fairbanks and Delta. "Freight carriers tend to move more slowly than regular traffic, and we don't want to see huge strings of cars waiting behind trucks," said MacKinnon. "By adding passing lanes, we'll improve safety and the flow of traffic." Put out to bid last fall, construction is expected to start on this $7.5 million project this spring.

HIGHWAY IMPROVEMENTS

As part of DOT's road review, the agency also decided to identify...