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Juneau Access Road

Issue

Currently, the only surface transportation to and from Juneau is provided by ferry and barge service. The State of Alaska identified a need to improve surface transportation by constructing a 50-mile road out of Juneau to Lynn Canal communities to connect to the rest of the state and continental road system. State decision makers see that demand on the state ferry system exceeds capacity during the summer months and costs for ferry users are high. They view access to the state capitol, government, medical services, employment, education, and economic opportunity, for citizens and legislators along with resource development as limited by the current ferry and barge service.

Background

A road to connect Juneau and the continental road system has been proposed for decades. The Alaska Department of Transportation and Public Facilities (ADOTPF), in cooperation with the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA), the United States Forest Service (USFS), other agencies, and local government have investigated potential solutions that would meet the transportation needs of Southeast Alaska. A project consisting of a new road and shuttle ferry connection to provide access to Juneau through upper Lynn Canal via Skagway and Haines was analyzed.

Current Situation

The final EIS was completed in January 2006 and a record of decision signed by FHWA April 3, 2006. The ROD proposed a highway along East Lynn Canal to a ferry terminal at the Katzehin River, with shuttle ferries to Haines and Skagway, as the preferred alternative and the best way to meet the projected traffic demands for the life of the project at lowest life cycle cost. The USFS and other agencies provided comments on the FEIS. The regional forester issued letters conditionally authorizing a right-of-entry and appropriation of land on May 22, 2006, as per Title 23 USC Section 317. This provision authorizes FHWA to permit construction and grant a highway easement through National Forest System Lands, once formally requested by ADOTPF. The FHWA will issue a United States Department of Transportation (USDOT) easement when the ADOTPF fulfills all application requirements. The locations for future access points to the highway have been identified by the USFS for potential long term recreation opportunities and will be reserved in the easement.

The Juneau Access corridor is identified in the Tongass Land Management Plan (TLMP) as transportation and utility corridor land use designation (TUS LUD). The entire route enters roadless areas. The corridor also crosses Berners Bay LUD II which is a congressionally-designated roadless area created by the Tongass Timber Reform Act (TTRA). The act permits crossing LUD IIs when the governor of the State of Alaska designates routes as essential transportation corridors. This was done with the Southeast Alaska Transportation Plan (SATP) in August 2004. The road crosses old growth reserves and adjustment of the reserve boundaries will be completed as prescribed by the TLMP.

The estimated costs for this project are expected to exceed $200,000,000. Funding for this project is proposed to come primarily from Federal Aid allocations (highway trust fund) to the State of Alaska and state general funds. Federal funds come with between 9 and 20 percent match requirements. The matching funds are expected to be contributed from state-appropriated sources. The Alaska legislature approved state general funds of $45 million in 2006 and lesser amounts in prior years. The first 24-mile contract to construct the road from the Juneau road system at Echo Cove to Sweeny Creek was advertised May 31, 2006, with construction start up planned in the fall of 2006 and completed by May 2009. The Corps of Engineers placed the wetlands permit out for pubic comment with comment period closing June 12, 2006. FHWA stipulations require the construction contract award to be withheld until the permit is issued. The ADOTPF plans to issue one $80 million contract in 2006 that has three segments: Echo Cove to the Antler River; Antler River to Lace River (the large bridges); and the Lace River to Sweeny Creek. Separate construction activities may occur on each segment concurrently. Other contracts will occur in subsequent years pending appropriation of funds.

According to the FEIS, the Juneau Access project is expected to: improve access to resource development activities; increase industrial capacity; increase tourist access to Juneau from Skagway and Haines with a number of potential new recreational opportunities along the way; improve access to shopping, government services, education, and medical services in Juneau to others in the state; lower transportation costs; contribute to the flow of goods and services; and decrease ferry costs and subsidies.

The Forest Service recently authorized the development of the Kensington Mine which is located along this corridor.

More Information

Pete Griffin, Juneau District Ranger, (907) 790-7443

Ken Vaughan, Deputy Director of Engineering and Aviation Management, (907) 586-8789

Current as of June 2006