Spring is here and that means that construction on the highways is taking place. That said, the Alaska Department of Transportation and Public Facilities reports that construction will affect the commute from Kenai to Anchorage beginning on Monday, April 25 and going through Tuesday April 26. From 8:00 p.m. to 11:00 p.m. the Sterling Highway at milepost 57.5 will be closed for blasting operations. Milepost 57.5 is located near Jim’s Landing and the pull off for the Russian River Ferry.
DOT crews report that single-lane closures are expected along with detour routes and flagging operations during daytime hours. Drivers should be alert to a detour beginning at milepost 56.
The Alaska Department of Transportation and Public Facilities, in cooperation with Scarsella Brothers, Inc., is working to reconstruct the Sterling Highway beginning near Skilak Lake Road to approximately milepost 56. Crews will be performing clearing, excavation, and embankment operations, as well as installing drainage, retaining walls, wildlife crossings, paving, signage, and striping.
The project overview, according to DOT, shows the Sterling Highway Milepost 45-60 Project reconstructing the east and west ends of the existing roadway from approximately milepost 45 to 46.5 and milepost 56 to 58, widening shoulders, straightening out the road, and adding passing lanes. Between mileposts 46.5 and 55.5 (the off-alignment section), the project will construct 10 miles of new roadway north of Cooper Landing and the Kenai River, including a new bridge spanning Juneau Creek Canyon.
The project aims to bring the highway up to current standards by efficiently and safely serving through-traffic, the local community, and traffic bound for recreation destinations. This entire Sterling Highway MP 45-60 Project is estimated at approximately $485 million, and it will be constructed in six phases. Schedule goals include opening the new highway to traffic by the end of 2027.
For the latest road conditions check with 511 and exercise safety in all construction zones as traffic fines double, speed limits will be reduced, allow additional time when traveling, and watch for changing driving conditions.
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