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KETCHIKAN - The Craig and Thorne Bay Ranger Districts are seeking to reduce the 1,419 miles of open Forest Service roads on Prince of Wales Island by 40 percent.

Thorne Bay District Ranger Jason Anderson says a series of public meetings have been scheduled to gather opinions on which roads are most important to travelers and should be kept open.

Anderson says he realizes southeast Alaska residents won't be pleased with fewer roads, but wants them to understand that money problems mean the existing ones can't all be maintained, and there are safety concerns as the roads deteriorate.