About the Project

This project is taking a corridor approach to finding a solution for these 20 miles of the Seward Highway. The public and agency stakeholders asked DOT&PF to develop a unified vision and mitigation strategy for the entire corridor at once.   

This environmental phase is the first step toward identifying the solution and advancing towards design and construction.  

Alternative Screening Process

Read more about the Project alternatives and screening in the Draft Environmental Assessment (EA) Section 2 and Appendix D: Alternatives Development Memorandum. This memorandum describes the many alternatives that were considered but not advanced in the EA, including a stacked structure, tunneling through curves, intermittent passing lanes (3-lane alternative), undivided highway, multimodal strategies, public transit, and commuter rail.

We also spent many hours discussing the concepts and screening them with our Stakeholder Working Group (SWG) to look for win-win solutions.

The Draft EA Appendix E: Highway Configuration Development and Selection Memorandum and Appendix G: Traffic and Safety Analysis provide more detail on how we decided on the best highway configuration to evaluate in the Draft EA.

See later slides for highlights of the Draft EA’s environmental analysis, proposed mitigation, and ways for you to comment.

Thank you! Based on your input, we have added a pedestrian crossing at Beluga Point and other locations in the corridor, ensured a separated pathway was a priority in design, helped minimize impacts to wildlife and the Turnagain Arm, expanded parking and improved parking in more strategic places, and are protecting scenic views so travelers can enjoy the Scenic Byway.

No Action

The Draft Environmental Assessment (EA) analyzes the environmental consequences of the Proposed Action (constructing a four-lane, divided highway with a multi-use pathway) and the No Action alternative, addressing impacts on physical, biological, and human environments. The document also outlines mitigation measures, public involvement outcomes, and compliance with the National Environmental Policy Act and related federal and state regulations. 

 The No Action alternative is our baseline for comparison with action alternatives. Under the No Action alternative, the Seward Highway would stay as it is today—two lanes, no corridor-wide safety improvements, and no new multi-use pathway. Crash rates, congestion, and emergency response delays would continue similar to current conditions. 

This option helps us understand the environmental impacts of doing nothing versus making improvements. 

You can read more about the No Action alternative in the Draft EA Section 2. 

Proposed Action Overview

The Draft Environmental Assessment (EA) analyzes the environmental consequences of the Proposed Action (constructing a four-lane, divided highway with an Americans with Disabilities Act-compliant multi-use pathway) and the No Action alternative, addressing impacts on physical, biological, and human environments. The document also outlines mitigation measures, public involvement outcomes, and compliance with the National Environmental Policy Act and related federal and state regulations. 

The Proposed Action is to construct a four-lane divided highway with a separated pathway. This alternative would reduce crash risks, improve travel reliability, and create safer access for all users. 

The rendering shown is for visual purposes only and is not final. Elements shown may change during the design process and should not be interpreted as engineering plans or construction details. 

 To see more on the Proposed Action, you can also review the Draft EA Appendix F: Proposed Action Mapbook  and visit our web mapper. This will allow you to see the land you are interested in and figure out what our best concepts are right now.  

If progressed, future design stages would include conducting more public involvement during each stage and developing a lot more engineering detail.

Proposed Action Details

The Draft Environmental Assessment (EA) analyzes the environmental consequences of the Proposed Action (a four-lane, divided highway with a multi-use pathway) and the No Action Alternative, addressing impacts on physical, biological, and human environments. The document also outlines mitigation measures, public involvement outcomes, and compliance with National Environmental Policy Act and related federal and state regulations.

The Proposed Action includes:

• A four-lane divided highway with a 55-mile-per-hour (mph) design and posted speed
• A 14-mile, separated, multi-use pathway that meets Americans with Disabilities Act standards with safe crossings
• Turn lanes, consolidated pullouts, and frontage roads for safer access
• Expanded parking at major recreation sites
• Railroad realignment
• Rockfall catchment that meets requirements
• Construction would be phased over 15 to 20 years to keep traffic moving.

Learn more in the Draft EA Section 2 and Appendix F: Proposed Action Mapbook.

Draft EA Impact Highlights: Topography, Earthwork, and Blasting

The Proposed Action requires major earthwork: rock blasting, excavation, and fill placement. Approximately 40% of the corridor involves mountain cuts of varying heights.

These changes are necessary to improve safety and reduce crash risks.

Explore the Sandbox below to see where these features are planned. Details are provided in the Draft Environmental Assessment Section 3.1.1 and Appendix H: Geotechnical Data Review.

Draft EA Impact Highlights: Wildlife, Habitat, and Marine Mammals

The Proposed Action affects wetlands, wildlife habitat, and portions of the Anchorage Coastal Wildlife Refuge. We’ve minimized impacts where possible and will provide mitigation through wetland banking and land replacement, where required by regulations.

Construction will follow strict timing windows to protect fish and birds.

Cook Inlet beluga whales and other marine mammals use Turnagain Arm. The Proposed Action includes in-water fill, but the National Marine Fisheries Service determined impacts will not adversely affect these species.

Mitigation includes timing restrictions and monitoring during construction.

See the Draft Environmental Assessment Section 3.2, Appendix I:Wetland/Waterbody Preliminary Jurisdictional Determination Report, Appendix K: Essential Fish Habitat Report, Appendix L: Eagle Nest Survey Technical Report, and Appendix M: Section 7 Biological Assessment and Consultation for details.

Draft EA Impacts: Parks and Section 106 Resources

The Proposed Action uses land from Chugach State Park and the Anchorage Coastal Wildlife Refuge. It also affects some recreation facilities, which will be rebuilt or relocated.

Historic properties (i.e., cultural resources eligible for or listed in the National Register of Historic Properties) were avoided, so the Alaska State Historic Preservation Officer concurred with a finding of no adverse effects.

See the Draft Environmental Assessment Sections 3.3.5 and 3.3.11, Appendix S for the Section 4(f) Evaluation, and Appendix Q for Section 106 consultation for details.

Draft EA Impacts: Draft Individual Section 4(f) Evaluation

Section 4(f) requires us to avoid or minimize impacts on parks, refuges, and historic sites. The Proposed Action uses land from Chugach State Park and the Anchorage Coastal Wildlife Refuge, but no feasible and prudent avoidance alternative exists.

Mitigation includes replacing park land, rebuilding trailheads, and adding grade-separated crossings.

The Draft Environmental Assessment Appendix S contains the Draft Individual Section 4(f) Evaluation. It outlines that there are no alternatives that can avoid Section 4(f) resources within the project area. The draft evaluation presents the basis for future decision making by DOT&PF, and public and agency input is solicited to inform the final evaluation. DOT&PF must discuss the basis for concluding that there are no feasible and prudent alternatives to the use of any Section 4(f) property and that all possible planning to minimize hard to the property has been included.

We need your comments addressing whether and how the draft Section 4(f) evaluation meets those requirements.

What’s Next for the Overall Project? When is Construction?

Design starts only after the environmental process is complete and a Finding of No Significant Impact (FONSI) is issued for the Proposed Action. Construction will be phased over 10 to 20 years to keep traffic flowing.

Each phase will include its own design, public involvement, and context-sensitive solutions process. When design is refined in future changes, each project will need to comply with the requirements of the FONSI or complete a re-evaluation of the environmental impacts.

See the Draft Environmental Assessment for details on next steps.

We would like your feedback.

Public comment period for the Draft Environmental Assessment and Draft Individual Section 4(f) Evaluation is open from December 29, 2025, through February 27, 2026.

You can participate in the Safer Seward Highway Project in several ways. Scan the QR codes with your smartphone to instantly:

• Sign up for emails: You can receive meeting notices, project announcements, and other up-to-date information via email: http://eepurl.com/ih4q3n
• Leave a comment: You can leave a comment using forms available here or use the QR code below to submit them electronically: https://form.jotform.com/230466754071052
• Email us: You can email the project team directly at info@safersewardhighway.com.
• Call us: If you have any questions or require additional information, please leave a message for the project team at (907) 802-3656.

Mail us: You can mail the project to the following address:

Safer Seward Highway
c/o HDR
582 E 36th Ave., Ste 500
Anchorage, AK 99503