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"It's no surprise the court granted the state intervention because the state handled the environmental documents," said Buck Lindekugel, conservation director for the group.

The council and other environmental and public interest groups, seeking an injunction, filed a lawsuit in August against the Federal Highway Administration and the U.S. Forest Service.

The plaintiffs contend the road would run through old-growth trees in the Tongass National Forest and could disturb bald eagle and sea lion habitats. They also say the plan to build the road does not comply with the Tongass National Forest's land management plan and alternative plans were not considered.

The state said it has an interest in the case because the Alaska transportation department took a lead role in the environmental work being challenged. The Department of Law moved to intervene in the lawsuit as a full-party defendant to protect the state's interests, officials said.