Following a letter sent to Governor Mike Dunleavy by Senator Peter Micciche detailing the reasons to reopen the Silvertip Maintenance Station, the Governor responded on Friday afternoon. He issued a letter calling for a reopening of the facility for its utilization to maintain the Seward and Sterling Highways for the remainder of the 2020/21 snow season.
In his response letter, Governor Dunleavy affirmed the importance of safe travel on the Seward and Sterling Highways. He also noted that these highways are “critical transportation corridors,” and should be expected to be clear and safe for drivers.
Senator Micciche spoke to KSRM late Friday, after he read the Governor’s letter, saying that the news is a welcome holiday gift from Governor Dunleavy: “I’m very happy about the outcome. I’m appreciative of the Governor and folks should reach out and thank Governor Dunleavy for essentially overruling the Department of Transportation. He’s been sympathetic on the issue with his intent to have a hands-off approach, and this time he just needed to – well – ‘that’s where the buck stops.’ And, it stopped.”
He added: “I’m very appreciative of the letter responding to my letter. We’ve been talking recently and I just think hearing from thousands of other folks on the Kenai, and finally, perhaps I’d like to think my father-to-father letter might have been somewhat of the final straw. The bottom line is the Governor has made the necessary actions to give a very good holiday gift to the people of the Kenai, and that is, essentially, helping them move back-and-forth freely and safely on the Seward and Sterling Highways. Also, helping for safe commerce: truckers have had a very difficult time lately. So, I’m grateful.”
Dunleavy’s full letter can be found below:
12.18.20-Senator-Micciche-Silvertop-Maint.-Station-Ltr
