$10M project begins out the road

Glacier Highway is getting a nearly $10 million facelift from Amalga Harbor Road to Kayak Launch from federal economic stimulus funds.

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The project is the second phase of construction to widen and straighten the highway. Miller Construction Co. has been awarded the bid to repave the road at a width of 30 feet for 4.6 miles.

"It will increase the speed of driving out to the end of the road," said Terry Miller, co-owner of the company.

The road will be widened about 7 feet on each side and shoulders will be added where there are none now, Miller said.

Construction work began last week and the project is expected to be completed next September, Miller said, with a break in construction this winter.

"They get 200 inches of snow there at times," Miller said. "We will work out there until the weather stops us, maybe (around) Thanksgiving."

The majority of the first phase of the roadwork was completed in 2005, with a small fraction of work finished up in the middle of 2006. The first phase cost roughly $10 million as well, Alaska Department of Transportation and Public Facilities spokesman Roger Wetherell said.

The department is working on the design portion of a third stage of roadwork, he said. The cost or schematics are not available because phase three is still being designed, Wetherell said.

Federal stimulus funds helped greenlight the second phase, Miller said.

"This project was held up because of the permitting process," he said. "It is a stimulus job, and because of the stimulus the permitting process was expedited."

The roadwork must work around 11 fish-rearing streams, Miller said, which includes constructing 75 culverts.

"It is a $10 million job so there is a lot of work to do," he said.

Delays for drivers are to be expected but there shouldn't be many traffic problems due to construction, Miller said.

"There is blasting but I don't think there is going to be too many lengthy delays," he said.

Wetherell said he is not aware of this construction work being associated with a possible future road out of Juneau.

"Any time we can make improvements and there's money available ... we certainly want to be able to go forward and make the best improvements possible," he said.

• Contact reporter Eric Morrison at 523-2269 or e-mail eric.morrison@juneauempire.com.