Traffic at the Fred Meyer intersection, formally known as Egan and Yandukin drives in November 2019. (Michael Penn | Juneau Empire File)

Traffic at the Fred Meyer intersection, formally known as Egan and Yandukin drives in November 2019. (Michael Penn | Juneau Empire File)

Egan-Yandukin intersection’s future is in the works

CBJ committee hears about the possible projects

A lot needs to happen before work is done at the site of some of Juneau’s most high-profile vehicle crashes.

A presentation from the Alaska Department of Transportation and Public Facilities at Wednesday’s City and Borough of Juneau Public Works and Facilities Committee meeting emphasized how much still needs to be determined and decided regarding the future Egan and Yandukin drives, which is commonly called the “Fred Meyer intersection.”

“Everything is still an option at this point,” Jim Brown, engineering manager for DOT, said after the meeting. “We’re still gathering information to ascertain what the needs are. All ideas are still on the table.”

ADVERTISEMENT
0 seconds of 0 secondsVolume 0%
Press shift question mark to access a list of keyboard shortcuts
00:00
00:00
00:00
 

He said some needs already identified by DOT include increasing gaps in traffic, reducing turn lane conflicts, economy and the speed zone for Egan Drive near the intersection.

[DOT holds public meeting about Fred Meyer intersection]

“Right now, the speed limit through that area is 55 mph, the average person is driving 62,” Brown said during the meeting.

Assembly member Michelle Bonnet Hale said during the meeting many of the wrecks that occur at the intersection involve vehicles traveling at high speeds.

Past concepts shared by DOT to improve the intersection include: signalized Yandukin Drive Intersection at Fred Meyer, a one-way extension of Lemon Spur to signal at Egan Drive and Glacier Highway, a two-way extension of Lemon Spur to a four-leg signal at Egan Drive and Glacier Highway, a separated grade interchange at Egan Drive and Yandukin Drive/Fred Meyer.

“There should be more to come,” Brown said.

Some preliminary short-term changes being considered as well.

“Some of them could be as simple as signage, or offsetting turn lanes or traffic cones or concrete islands,” Brown said.

He emphasized studies would still need to be done on the alternatives, and there is still a lot of work and multiple public meetings expected between now and the fourth quarter of this year when recommendations are expected.

Once those recommendations are made, DOT design group chief Chris Goins said funding for the project will have a lot to do with when actual work happens at the intersection.

“There’s no construction funding at this time,” Goins said. “This is really our time as a community, as a DOT to put our best foot forward in the funding process and come with a solution that the community can get behind, so that we can seek funding.”

This screen shot of a graph from the Alaska Department of Transportation and Public Facilities shows crash frequency at the Egan and Yundukin drives intersection. DOT is working on options for potentially improving the safety, connectivity, traffic flow and pedestrian access at the intersection. (Screen Shot | Alaska Department of Transportation and Public Facilities)

This screen shot of a graph from the Alaska Department of Transportation and Public Facilities shows crash frequency at the Egan and Yundukin drives intersection. DOT is working on options for potentially improving the safety, connectivity, traffic flow and pedestrian access at the intersection. (Screen Shot | Alaska Department of Transportation and Public Facilities)

Something that could add difficulty to making the case for funding the project is that it will be competing against other DOT projects for money, and surface-level figures do not show the intersection as being especially dangerous.

During Goins’ and Brown’s presentation, they provided statistics from a 2013 study — Brown said DOT is working to update the figures — that found the Fred Meyer intersection saw the eighth most crashes in Juneau.

Assembly member Maria Gladzsiszewski said she still perceives it as being the most dangerous intersection in Juneau. She asked what intersection does see the most crashes, and why the Fred Meyer intersection is receiving so much attention if it’s No. 8.

[Public gives feedback on intersection plans]

Brown said the intersection that’s the site of the most wrecks is Mendenhall Loop Road and Egan Drive.

Goins said the high visibility of the Fred Meyer intersection and lack of routes around it are part of why it gets so much public attention from the public and DOT.

“People will sit there for hours sometimes when these accidents occur, and that’s all they have to think about,” Goins said.

Another statistic from the report indicated that more than half of crashes at the intersection happen in November, December and January.

Goins underscored that Juneau is currently in the midst of the risky time of decreased light and slick roads and encouraged people to dive safely.

“Take your time and don’t misjudge a gap,” Goins said. “It’s key, it’s important for you safety.”

By the numbers

Statistics come from the Alaska Department of Transportation and Public Facilities

8 The Egan and Yandukin drives intersection has the eighth highest total for crashes in Juneau.

0 There have been 0 facilities at the intersection.

46 Nearly half of the crashes at the intersection involve vehicles making left turns.

> 50 More than half, 50%, of crashes at the intersection occur in November, December and January.

More in News

(Juneau Empire file photo)
Aurora forecast through the week of Feb. 15

These forecasts are courtesy of the University of Alaska Fairbanks’ Geophysical Institute… Continue reading

Dylan Court and Emily Feliciano-Soto at a rehearsal of “Necessary Nonsense,” a Theater Alaska production debuting Friday. (Photo courtesy of Theatre Alaska)
Middle schoolers bring ‘Necessary Nonsense’ to life in Theater Alaska Kids Company’s debut play

Imagine a world where “Alice in Wonderland” characters mingle with limerick legends… Continue reading

Jonathan Estes, a parent of three students attending the Dzantik’i Heeni campus, testifies for a safe playground at a special Juneau Board of Education meeting on Thursday, March 13, 2025. (Jasz Garrett / Juneau Empire)
Juneau School District submits budget for next school year to Juneau Assembly

The plan assumes $400 BSA hike and no staff vacancies; board also advocates for DH playground.

A totem pole and visitor guide sign on the downtown Juneau cruise ship dock on Thursday. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire)
‘Anecdotal’ signs Juneau’s tourism season may see a dropoff due to Trump’s policies, officials say

Tariffs, talk of recession causing uncertainty and ill will resulting in reports of cancellations.

(Michael Penn / Juneau Empire file photo)
Police calls for Wednesday, March 12, 2025

This report contains public information from law enforcement and public safety agencies.

Gabriel von Eisenstein (David Cangelosi) is pulled in two separate directions by his wife Rosalinda (Sara Radke Brown, right) and Rosalinda’s maid, Adele (Kayla Kohlhase, left) during a dress rehearsal of “Die Fledermaus” on Wednesday, March 12, 2025. (Jasz Garrett / Juneau Empire)
Juneau Lyric Opera celebrates a chorus of community for 50th anniversary

German operetta “Die Fledermaus” that launched JLO gets revival with old and new voices Friday night.

The Cable Innovator docks in Juneau on Wednesday, March 13, 2025. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire)
Subsea communications cable repair ship makes port stop in Juneau between Southeast projects

Cable Innovator wraps up work in Sitka, now heads for Angoon following regional outage.

The Office of Personnel Management in Washington. (Eric Lee/The New York Times)
Judge orders Trump administration to rehire thousands of fired workers; at least some to get back pay

Treasury, Veterans Affairs, Agriculture, Defense, Energy and Interior departments affected by order.

Most Read