By JON FAULKNER
The U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) recently announced that a record-setting $183.4 million in federal funds were redistributed to Alaska’s DOT and Public Facilities through the Federal Highway Administration.
Redistribution funds allow states with previously approved and designed projects to accelerate their construction timelines through a re-allocation of existing federal funds. The $183.4 million places Alaska as the highest in the nation on a per-capita basis for August redistribution funding.
Senator Sullivan is a member of the Environment and Public Works Committee and has consistently advocated for increased funding for Alaska’s federal highway projects, including efforts during President Trump’s first term to secure funding and permits for the massive Cooper Landing Bypass project.
The road funds will help advance two large projects currently in progress: the West Susitna Access Road and the Cooper Landing Bypass. They will also cover other safety, pavement protection, and smaller access projects.
“We have natural resources that exceed most major countries, yet we have fewer road miles than Connecticut, despite our state being 118 times the size. In my seats on both the Environment and Public Works and Commerce Committees, getting more infrastructure—including roads—built in our state so we can unlock our full potential is one of my top priorities,” said Senator Sullivan in a prepared statement.
Sullivan continued: “We’ve had great success securing major awards for transportation infrastructure projects, with hundreds of millions of dollars in long-term investments coming to our state, but more needs to be done. My team and I have had numerous conversations with Transportation Secretary Duffy and his team about our infrastructure challenges and the necessity of working cooperatively with Alaska DOT to ensure that, unlike the previous administration, federal highway funds aren’t bogged down by unnecessary requirements and red tape. I want to thank Secretary Duffy for following through on his commitments and look forward to working with Alaska DOT to ensure that these funds are used to advance infrastructure projects that benefit our communities.”
Jon Faulkner is the president of Alaska Gold Communications, parent company to Must Read Alaska.
Good job Dan. Spend some smoothing those damn dippity do’s on the Tok Cut off and Delta to the Boarder stretch..
What! Shut down our roller coaster!
Can’t believe you said that.
The Cooper Landing Bypass project has become a huge boondoggle. After 50 years of studying alternative routes, they finally picked a “winner” in 2017 and eventually started construction in 2021, with an expected completion date of summer 2025. Since then, the costs have way more than doubled and the expected completion date is now at least 2032. By the time the road actually opens, they’ll already have to begin patching the frost heaves. Who wants to bet that costs will continue to climb and the dates will continue to be extended way beyond 2032?
How did the design contractors and state civil engineers, all supposedly trained to design and cost estimate major construction projects like this one, get it so wrong?
For that matter, why do we not expect anything better?
QAP took over the job from Granite and is on track to finish by 2027 as long as they get the funding the state promised.
We are so behind on road building.
Wow maybe the highway department will fix the potholes on the Parks highway between Willow and Huston. Who ever says they fixed them needs to go back to pothole school.
No instead they’ll start a giant private mining road through a 100 miles of swamp(west su access)… While lieing to everyone about how it’s for public access… To a swamp
It will be very interesting to see how much the ‘Cooper Landing Bypass Project’ will finally cost. Also, if there will be unintended consequences on the community of Cooper Landing once completed. Stay tuned.
Instead of the west Susitna boondoggle, fix the Glenn highway north of Sutton to Glacier view.
Or really anywhere tax payers currently use
fix? You mean straighten out, like they did along T. Arm?
Thanks Senator!
More/safer roads benefit all of us.
I can almost hear enviro-nuts seething at this announcement! ‘OMG- ordinary people, having MORE access to Alaska?!?’ Just wait for the upcoming barrage of anti-development ads to start, folks!
Yep.
Sure wish I could have driven to the Susitna when I was fishing/ camping/raising a family.
Piece in the Daily Rag today from a retired military guy about how it will mess up “nature” tours & peony farms out there, now that there’s no fish (hope the greenies like pike)
Think the few who live/ work there care about energy or mining that is good for the rest of us?
Glad the funds from the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act passed under the Biden Administration were redistributed to projects ready to go.
Maybe just maybe they will use some of that money to fix the State roads here in Anchorage????
A little bit surprising – normally this federal pork provides little, if any, benefits to the average Alaskan. I suppose the much large chunk for rural villages and the military will come later.
1/2 the roads in Anchorage are rutted from studded tires or deteriorated by freeze/thaw. If the State cannot properly repair potholes, mill and overlay. Start on Spenard from International to Munnesota!
That’s a mini road
Last summer was excellent, no road construction due to STIP rejections, faulty paperwork submission
Back on track? It’s gonna be winter, shut down looming next week
Dang Biden and Comey, throw Hillary to blame in there too
It seems to me we would be better served if this project never commenced.
There are so many other needs we have that would be far more relevant.
We could have addressed hundreds of them.
How about spending some of that money on the Tok cutoff? It’s the main artery between anchorage and the lower 48, and is one of the worst paved roads in the state.
Not possible. The Congressional delegation must build more laundromats for rural communities. The laundromat projects rank right behind stuff for the military.