Gov. Michael Dunleavy has asked the Department of Transportation to postpone the Glenn Highway lighting curfew until additional data can be gathered on the three other highways under lighting curfew (Minnesota Drive, C Street and the Sterling Highway).
[Read: Alaska Life Hack: Glenn Highway gets lighting curfew]
The department will re-evaluate once the additional data is gathered to see if the state can move forward with a lighting curfew, or explore other options, including a future conversion to LED lights.
The curfew had been set for a 34-mile stretch, where lights were going to be out from 1 – 4 am every morning.
Instead, the department will continue to look for ways to save state funding in order to provide a comprehensive snow and ice removal effort throughout southcentral Alaska.
Sen. Shelley Hughes thanked DOT for keeping the roads safe: “The Mat-Su delegation is pleased to hear from the Governor that he and the Commissioner of the Department of Transportation have decided to keep the Glenn Highway lights on between 1am and 4am this winter to improve the safety of this 34-mile stretch. DOT will be working to find cost savings elsewhere – on items that don’t impact safety. We look forward to continued partnership with the administration and the department to keep Alaska’s roads safe during this winter season. We appreciate all the DOT employees who work hard every day on behalf of Alaskans. Drive safely, everyone!”
