On October 26, 2026, U.S. Senators Dan Sullivan and Lisa Murkowski and Congressman Nick Begich (all R-Alaska) announced nearly $105 million in U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) awards to six critical port and maritime infrastructure projects across Alaska through the Port Infrastructure Development Program (PIDP). The investments will support the modernization and expansion of ports, harbors, docks, and related infrastructure serving communities from Southeast Alaska to the Aleutians and the Arctic.
“Alaska is a resource-rich but infrastructure-poor state, and expanding our critical infrastructure has been one of my highest priorities since coming to the Senate,” said Senator Sullivan. “My team and I worked hard to secure this $105 million in new investments—another major win for our coastal communities and part of the generational infrastructure opportunities we are creating across Alaska. With more coastline than the rest of the country combined, our ports and harbors are lifelines for our communities, our economy, and our national security. That’s why we fought to change federal law to ensure Alaska projects can fairly compete for these investments. From our ports and rural docks to broadband, aviation safety, energy, water and sanitation, rural health care, and military infrastructure, we are making investments on a scale that will benefit Alaskans for generations. I want to thank Secretary Sean Duffy, Under Secretary Ryan McCormack, and MARAD Administrator Stephen Carmel for their leadership and commitment to addressing Alaska’s unique infrastructure needs.”
“The Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act continues to deliver for Alaska,” said Senator Murkowski. “These projects will improve safety and efficiency while helping ensure Alaska can continue to serve as a gateway for commerce, transportation, and our national security. I’m proud to have worked with the delegation to drive further federal investment to modernize our ports and build the infrastructure Alaska’s future demands.”
“Since day one, we have been advocating for critical investments in Alaska’s ports and harbors, making their strategic importance clear to the Administration and advancing these priorities through our work in Congress,” said Congressman Begich. “Alaska’s ports are critical to our state’s maritime economy and America’s strategic presence in the Arctic and North Pacific. From modernizing Kodiak’s St. Herman’s Harbor to expanding Nome’s deep-draft port capabilities, these investments will support Alaska’s commercial fishing sector, maritime security, and strengthen our transportation and supply chain networks. I appreciate the Administration’s recognition of Alaska’s strategic importance, and I will continue working to ensure our state has the infrastructure necessary to support good-paying jobs and lasting economic growth.”
Alaska Port Infrastructure Development Program Awards
The six projects receiving funding are:
- DeLong Dock Replacement Project — Whittier: $50,593,488. Funding will support the replacement of aging maritime infrastructure serving Southcentral Alaska’s transportation network and regional supply chains.
- Ounalashka Arctic and North Pacific Maritime Hub — Unalaska: $4,402,403. Funding will advance maritime infrastructure supporting commercial fisheries, shipping, and maritime operations in the North Pacific and Arctic.
- Saint Herman Harbor Recapitalization Project, Phase 2A — Kodiak: $26,070,000. Funding will support improvements to a vital facility serving Kodiak’s commercial fishing fleet and maritime economy.
- Arctic Deep-Draft Port, Local Service Facilities — Nome: $11,250,000. Funding will support local service infrastructure associated with the expansion of Nome’s Arctic deep-draft port, strengthening maritime access, commerce, emergency response, and national security.
- Port of Alaska Modernization Program, Stevedore Support Facilities and Landside Operations Readiness Project — Anchorage: $6,394,000. Funding will support operational improvements associated with modernizing Alaska’s principal maritime cargo hub.
- Kake Marine Cargo Dock Development Project — Kake: $6,287,220. Funding will advance maritime cargo infrastructure serving the Southeast Alaska community.
Historic Infrastructure Investments Across Alaska
The awards build on billions of dollars in federal infrastructure investments secured for Alaska in recent years, including major projects to improve ports and harbors, expand broadband connectivity, strengthen aviation safety, modernize military and Coast Guard installations, improve rural energy infrastructure, and transform rural health care.
- Ports, Harbors, and Maritime Infrastructure: Hundreds of millions of dollars in federal investments supporting Alaska’s ports and harbors, including approximately $324 million in recent Port Infrastructure Development Program awards, $250 million for Nome’s Arctic deep-draft port, $249 million for the Port MacKenzie Rail Extension, and more than $169 million for the Don Young Port of Alaska modernization.
- Aviation Safety and Airport Infrastructure — Nearly $500 Million: Planned FAA investments over three years to modernize aviation infrastructure and strengthen safety across Alaska, including $80 million for at least 110 weather observing systems and 64 aviation weather camera sites, $40 million for the FAA’s Alaska Aviation Safety Initiative, and additional airport and air traffic infrastructure improvements.
- Broadband Connectivity — Billions in Federal Investments: Historic investments to expand high-speed internet connectivity across Alaska, including the state’s $1.017 billion BEAD allocation, with more than $629 million supporting 29 initial broadband deployment projects.
- Highways, Roads, and Bridges — More Than $230 Million in Recent Awards: Including $183.4 million in additional federal highway funding and more than $50 million for transportation resilience projects, alongside ongoing federal highway formula funding and major road and bridge improvements statewide.
- Alaska Marine Highway System — More Than $900 Million: Federal investments supporting ferry operations, vessel replacement, terminal improvements, and the modernization of Alaska’s essential marine transportation network.
- Military and Coast Guard Infrastructure — Billions in Investments: Including the $7 billion multi-year JBER recapitalization effort, more than $1.2 billion in Interior Alaska military construction, more than $1.4 billion in Coast Guard construction and infrastructure across Alaska since 2015, and major investments in Arctic defense, missile defense, and icebreaker capabilities.
- Rural Energy Infrastructure — More Than $325 Million: Including up to $150 million for the Beluga–Healy Transmission Project, up to $125 million for five rural Alaska clean energy projects, and $50 million announced in October 2026 to strengthen rural energy infrastructure and reduce costs.
- Rural Health Care — Approximately $1.4 Billion Over Five Years: Alaska’s share of the historic Rural Health Transformation Program, including nearly $249 million awarded this year alone supporting 254 projects to expand access to care, modernize rural health infrastructure, strengthen the health care workforce, and improve health outcomes.
- Water, Sanitation, and WRDA Infrastructure — Hundreds of Millions of Dollars: Including more than $182 million in previously announced federal water infrastructure investments and a proposed $240 million Alaska-specific authorization for rural water and sanitation projects, alongside major Army Corps infrastructure initiatives supporting Nome’s port, Juneau flood protection, and Western Alaska coastal resilience.
Press release provided by the Alaska Congressional Delegation.
