The Alaska House of Representatives unanimously voted to approve a measure that contains a provision put forward by Soldotna Rep. Ron Gillham and Rep. David Nelson (Anchorage) to name the bridge slated for construction over the Juneau Creek Canyon as part of the Cooper Landing Bypass the Congressman Don Young Bridge.
Rep. Gillham speaks on an amendment to House Bill 357:
“What this does is it names a bridge that is going to be built after Congressman Don Young and it will be the longest single spanning bridge in the state. Fittingly it is going across the Juneau Creek on the new bypass behind Cooper Landing. There is no fiscal note. The money is already in the budget for the naming and for the bridge so there is zero fiscal note. I just thought it would be fitting to name the longest spanning bridge after the longest sitting congressman in basically our history. I appreciate your support on naming this bill after Congressman Don Young.”
As part of the Sterling Highway project, the new bridge will upgrade the highway between Sunrise Inn and the eastern entrance to Skilak Lake Road, near Cooper Landing. The chosen route, the Juneau Creek Alternative, departs from the existing highway alignment at milepost 46.5, will cross the Juneau Creek Canyon, and descend the hillside before rejoining the existing corridor near milepost 55.8. The new bridge will be a steel arch and will be the longest single-span bridge in the state (over 480 feet).
The amendment, adding the bridge number 1818 to be built across the Juneau Creek Canyon on the Sterling Highway to be named the Congressman Don Young Bridge is part of House Bill 357. Passage of the legislation is timely in that construction began last year with a completion date in 2025. It’s also timely that the legislature honors the service of the late Congressman and establish a visible tribute to him for Alaskans and visitors alike.
House Bill 357 now heads to the Senate for consideration.
Transcribed audio courtesy of KTOO 360TV.