fter over four decades, the dream of the Cooper Landing Bypass took a big step forward Friday, even as the project took two steps back with the announcement that the Federal Highway Administration is re-opening the Least Environmental Harm Analysis on the four lead alternatives that they are investigating. The reconsideration to attributed to a new ability to execute a land exchange for controversial properties that made some of the alternatives less attractive.
The Sterling Highway is one of state’s busiest roads, and DOT has worked at re-routing the thin 15-mile ribbon of twisting, turning pavement between Mileposts 45-60 since 1975.
Commissioner for Transportation Marc Luiken:”The Department of Interior has sent a letter to the Secretary of Transportation that said, ‘we would consider a land exchange with the native corporation CIRI if one of these other alternatives …were selected.”
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| Marc Luiken |
Two years ago, DOT announced department preference for the G South Alternative, but Transportation Secretary Elaine Chao announced that route is no longer the heir apparent.
Commissioner for Transportation Marc Luiken:”Several groups on the Kenai Peninsula, including the Borough itself and certainly the tribes and the native corporation down there, were concerned about that particular alternative.”
G South Alternative would reconstruct eight miles of the existing highway, construct 5.5 miles of new alignment skirting north of Cooper Landing, before reconnecting with the existing alignment near milepost 52.. This alternative would construct a new bridge over lower Juneau Creek and another over the Kenai River, and replace an existing bridge over the Kenai River.
Proponents found the routing avoids impacts to the Resurrection Pass Trail, the Juneau Falls Recreation Area and important cultural properties, and also avoids using designated wilderness land within the Kenai National Wildlife Refuge. The G South Alternative also skirts Cooper Landing in an effort to reduce traffic, noise ,and property acquisition that would potentially impact that community.
According to the project’s website, later this year DOT&PF and FHWA will publish a Final EIS which provide additional details on the identification of the preferred alternative, along with responses to all the public comments received on the project. The final decision on which alternative will be selected is expected to be announced this fall with the publication of the Record of Decision.
Chao says the Sterling Highway project has “currently the longest running federally led Environmental Impact Statement in the country.” The Sterling highway was opened in 1950, with Seward’s Chris Sorenson driving the first vehicle across, running supplies to Per Osmar in Clam Gulch.
Story as aired on KSRM News:
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