SITKA — The city of Sitka has announced that construction will start on the second phase of an oceanside sidewalk project thanks to more than $1.3 million in state funding.
The money awarded through the Alaska Transportation Alternatives Program will help cover the cost of extending the walkway. The Sitka Sea Walk project is one of 12 projects funded statewide in the program under the state’s transportation department, The Sitka Sentinel reported (http://bit.ly/2ax6dy0).
City Engineer Dan Tadic said the next phase of construction will extend the sea walk, which stretches from the Centennial Hall to the Sitka National Historical Park border, by 1,763 feet.
Officials expect construction to begin in 2018.
“I think it will be a great addition to the visitor industry, visitors can get off at Centennial Hall and get to this part of town,” said City Administrator Mark Gorman.
The first part of the walkway had been completed in 2013, with funding from the Legislature and the cruise ship passenger excise tax.
The total estimated cost of the second phase of the project is $1.7 million. In addition to the funds announced from the state program, the Federal Lands Access Program will contribute $200,000 toward the project and $140,000 will come from the cruise ship passenger excise tax.
