Kathie Petersen, left, and Ruth Maller walk Wednesday to a bus stop across the intersection at Glacier Highway and the Mendenhall Loop Road at Auke Bay. The intersection is slated for $4.5 million in safety improvements under the draft Statewide Transportation Improvement Plan.
Juneau projects in draft plan
• Brotherhood Bridge and Industrial Boulevard Improvements, with separated bike path. Project will replace the existing Glacier Highway bridge across the Mendenhall River, and bike/pedestrian path between existing path and University of Alaska Southeast. Total cost over several years of $20.4 million.
• Egan Drive resurfacing, Main Street to 10th Street in 2011. Cost for the single year project: $550,000.
• Glacier Highway/Back Loop Road intersection safety improvements. Cost is $4.5 million over the next two years.
• Fritz Cove to Auke Bay School, roadway and pedestrian improvements, including replacement of three culverts allowing fish access to Auke Lake. Cost over four years is $8.5 million, with most of the work done in 2013.
• Juneau Access Project. Plan calls for delaying design work until 2012 and construction in 2013, presumably after conclusion of legal challenges. Cost of the 2013 work at $45.6 million.
• Transit bus acquisition and transit center. Proposed spending over the next four years of $17.3 million.
• Enhanced local transit service, five additional buses. Cost in 2013 is $1.6 million.
• Riverside Drive rehabilitation and widening. Improved right turn lane off Egan Drive, then two lanes to Mendenhall Mall Road. Repave from Egan Drive to James Boulevard. Cost is $2.9 million, with construction in 2013.
• Auke Lake Trail and Wayside. Construct trail with UAS access, 1.5 miles long with picnic shelter, restrooms, trailhead parking and interpretive amenities. Cost is $1.6 million with construction in 2012.
• Industrial Boulevard widening and sidewalks. Wider pavement and additional west side curb, gutter and sidewalks from Glacier Highway to Maier Drive, with foot and horse path on east side. Cost is $330,000.
• Juneau Bridges, Jordan Creek at Trout Street and Basin Road Trestle. Remove and replace Trout Street Bridge, replace decking and guardrails on trestle, inspect, repair or replace bent foundations. Cost in 2010 is $2.4 million.
Source: Alaska Department of Transportation and Public Facilities.
E-mail: dot.stip@alaska.gov.
Mail: PO Box 112500 Juneau, AK 99811-2500.
Deadline: Oct. 2, 2009.
Web link:
View the transportation project list at www.dot.state.ak.us/stwdplng/cip_stip/index.shtml.
Story last updated at 9/3/2009 - 9:50 am
The state's new transportation plan for the next several years includes a broad selection of Juneau projects, but some statewide projects are also attracting local attention.
The draft Statewide Transportation Improvement Program released Aug. 27 includes support for a new ferry the state wants to design and build for the Alaska Marine Highway System.
"We were thrilled to see the (Transportation) commissioner add $120 million for the new Alaska-class ferry; that's really a positive step for Southeast and the other coastal communities in Alaska," said Cathie Roemmich, chief executive officer of the of the Juneau Chamber of Commerce.
A portion of that money has already been appropriated and is ready to be spent. The remainder will take additional appropriations. The STIP is required by federal law before federal transportation money can be spent, but does not appropriate money in and of itself.
Funding can come from the legislative appropriations, borrowing from a variety of federal programs, and the STIP is required to be a realistic assessment of money likely to be available.
"While we would like to know the exact amount of federal funds available to us, a 2010-2013 STIP must be in place this fall in order for the state to receive any federal transportation funds," said Jeff Ottesen, director of program development for the department.
Sen. Dennis Egan said he was happy to see a strong list of Juneau projects on the list, but was especially happy with the commitment the department gave to the new ferry.
Egan said he'd have liked to see the North Douglas Crossing, a second bridge to Douglas Island, in the STIP, even if its construction is some time off.
"I'm pleased that DOT put a lot of projects in for Southeast Alaska, but they left a few things out as well," he said.
Juneau Streets Superintendent Mike Scott said that while the second crossing isn't in the STIP, he was confident it hadn't been forgotten.
"I know that it is in their long-range plans, but it's an expensive project and has some funding issues," he said.
One key project in the STIP is a new bridge over Jordan Creek at Trout Street. The existing bridge has temporary reinforcements keeping it from failing, but will be closed as soon as the ongoing rebuilding of another Jordan Creek crossing is completed.
"That bridge will be closed until it can be rebuilt, but we want to have two complete accesses to that neighborhood," he said.
Scott said he was happy to see that new bridge in the state's plans, and the number of Juneau projects in the STIP.
"I know a number of those projects are going to be a pretty good deal for Juneau," he said.
Roemmich said supporters of existing projects, such as the new ferry, or people seeking additions, such as the North Douglas Crossing, should comment on the plan.
• Contact reporter Pat Forgey at 523-2250 or e-mail patrick.forgey.@juneauempire.com.
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