The Alaska Industrial Development and Export Authority has submitted a Department of the Army Individual Permit application for the West Susitna Access Project, a proposed 78.5-mile road aimed at improving connectivity across the Matanuska-Susitna Borough and unlocking access to remote public lands and mineral-rich areas.
The road would begin approximately 1.4 miles west of Alexander Creek and extend to the Whiskey Bravo airstrip and mineral exploration camp. Following the Skwentna River’s northern edge before crossing to its southern side, the route is designed to allow year-round public access to lands that are currently difficult to reach except by air or water.
AIDEA officials describe the West Susitna Access Project as a transformative infrastructure development that would expand public and commercial opportunities, including access for hunting, fishing, and resource exploration. The primary purpose is to provide safe and reliable transportation to remote regions, in line with existing state area plans that identify a need for improved access.
Gov. Mike Dunleavy welcomed the advancement of the project, calling it a strategic move to boost economic development in the region: “AIDEA’s West Susitna Road holds significant value for Alaskans, especially local residents seeking better access to hunting, fishing, recreation, and potential opportunities in mining, processing, and manufacturing.”
Funding for the road is expected to follow a public-private partnership model similar to AIDEA’s Delong Mountain Transportation System, which supports the Red Dog Mine. That approach has previously yielded long-term economic gains through infrastructure that serves both public and private needs.
Support for the project spans political and community lines. Matanuska-Susitna Borough Mayor Edna DeVries called the road “a strategic investment in our region’s future,” emphasizing its potential to provide long-overdue access for families and businesses. “Reliable road access means a stronger local economy and more opportunities for recreation and responsible development,” DeVries said.
State lawmakers have also backed the project as a critical step in unlocking Alaska’s resource potential. “The West Susitna Access is an exciting opportunity not only to unlock some of Alaska’s extraordinary resource potential, but to provide all Alaskans new access to the recreation and outdoor opportunities found in the West Su,” said Rep. Kevin McCabe.
Sen. Mike Shower highlighted the national security and economic benefits of increased access to minerals like copper, gold, and antimony. “Responsible resource development is critical for Alaska, the United States and our allies,” he said, noting the road’s potential role in supporting jobs and technology supply chains.
Public land access advocates have also weighed in. Rod Arno, public policy director for the Alaska Outdoor Council, said the group “remains in strong support of the state creating more overland access to public lands/waters for all Alaskans.” He added that resource roads have historically become gateways to outdoor recreation and that the council will monitor the project’s progress to ensure renewable resource protections remain strong.
Local business owners echoed that enthusiasm. Cindi Hermans, president of Friends of West Susitna and owner of the Skwentna Roadhouse, called the permit application a long-awaited milestone: “It has been a long time coming, and we are eager to see the positive impact it will have on our community and surrounding areas.”
The permit application marks a key regulatory step in the project’s development and begins a review process that includes federal agency input and opportunities for public comment. If approved, the project will still be subject to environmental reviews and funding agreements. Actual ground breaking could be years away.
The project reflects Alaska’s constitutional mandate to develop state lands for maximum public benefit, balancing access, economic development, and conservation.
