Bidding open on disputed north road
$30 million project that runs to Slate Creek would open way for highway
State officials asked contractors Wednesday to submit a bid for building an 18-foot-wide pioneer road north from Cascade Point to help with the proposed 51-mile Lynn Canal highway.
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The state needs a permit from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers to build the permanent highway to a shuttle ferry terminal just north of the Katzehin River.
A pioneer road would provide contractors the necessary access to build the highway.
The Department of Transportation and Public Facilities expects the pioneer road to cost at most $30 million in state funds. Construction is expected to begin in April but will not start until the permits have been approved.
"We have been working with the corps of engineers to get the permit for the full road project," said John Manly, press spokesman for the governor's office. "That has been held up at this point. We've made the decision that we'd go and put in the pioneer road, which we were going to need anyway in order to get the material in for the bridges."
The 18-foot-wide gravel pioneer road would extend about 23 miles from Cascade Point to Slate Creek, 40 miles northwest of Juneau, said Mary Siroky, special assistant to transportation commissioner Mike Barton.
The road would have six bridges, including two spans more than 2,000 feet in length over the Lace and Antler rivers, she said.
Federal Highway Administration regulations prevent the state from using federal funds on the project until the permits are issued. By turning the project into a pioneer road built with state dollars, the state is free to issue a contract, Siroky said.
"It's important to know that we're not going to start any field construction until we have all of our permits in hand," Siroky said. "What we're doing is buying ourselves the time to get everything in place.
Construction is forbidden between March 15 and June 15 due to restrictions for sensitive wildlife habitat.
"We need to get things does (in the summer of 2007), so we can be ready for the following summer as well," Siroky said. "If we don't have a construction bid, we'll lose the 2007 window and the material procurement availabilities. A contractor has to order materials and get equipment lined up."
Road opponents found out about the pioneer plan from a press release issued just after 4 p.m. Wednesday.
"Murkowski is leaving the office in less than a month, he's hugely unpopular, he's been voted out, and he's trying to bully the state into taking on wasteful extravagant projects like the Juneau road," said Erika Bjorum, grassroots organizer with SEACC.
"More or less, this is an effort to tie up state money and to commit the next administration to a project," said Mike LeVine, attorney with EarthJustice. "This administration ought to do the right thing and wait until the permits are issued and wait until the analysis is complete."
"I think it's great news," said Jamie Parsons, former Juneau mayor and member of the Citizens Pro Road Committee.
Parsons said the road to Eaglecrest Ski Area was first built as a pioneer road, which made it easier to obtain additional money for the project.
"I guess I'm thrilled they're moving ahead with this," Parsons said. "Get out the shovels."