Welcome to the Safer Seward Highway

Winter 2023 Online Open House

Available December 5, 2023 – January 4, 2024

Seward Highway MP 98.5–118, Bird Flats to Rabbit Creek | Project No. 0A31034/ Z566310000

Welcome to the text only version of the Winter 2023 Online Open House for the Safer Seward Highway Project. This project is aimed at constructing improvements along the Seward Highway between Bird Flats and Rabbit Creek. (Mile posts 98.5, 118)

The purpose of this Online Open House is to share information regarding the project that was presented at the December 2023 Public Meetings.

Navigating this site – This site is designed specifically for persons who want to experience the content covered at the in-person public meetings. Click on the Visual Winter 2023 Online Open House to return to the visual online version.

Welcome!

Thank you for joining us!

The information presented during this Online Open House mirrors the information presented at the three 2023 Public Meetings held in Girdwood, Indian, and Anchorage, Alaska.

We would like to give an update on the feedback we have received and what we’ve been working on. The project team has put together a few initial concepts, and we would like to get your feedback on them.

About the Project

Poster Content:

DOT&PF is proposing to construct improvements along the Seward Highway between Bird Flats and Rabbit Creek. This major infrastructure project will make highway safety improvements to allow decommissioning of the Traffic Safety Corridor between Anchorage and Girdwood.

The Seward Highway has a long history of vehicle crashes that result in serious injuries and fatalities. Due to safety concerns, the Seward Highway was designated a Highway Safety Corridor in 2006. Since 2006, Anchorage area traffic travelling the Seward Highway to destinations such as Girdwood, Seward, and the Kenai Peninsula has increased, with 2021 Annual Average Daily Traffic between 7,000 and 10,000 vehicles. Seasonal traffic peaks in the summer further exemplify the problem, with daily traffic exceeding 15,000 vehicles per day in the months of June, July, and August on this primarily 2 lane highway.

We initiated this project with a scoping phase earlier this year. We received lots of input on important things to consider and what you think we need to do to make the highway safer. Since then, the project team has been doing some environmental field work, engineering concepts and investigations, and hosting a stakeholder working group and summer outreach.

We took all that information gathered and developed a few concepts that we need your feedback on!

Online Script:

DOT&PF has proposed improvements along the Seward Highway between Bird Flats and Rabbit Creek. This project aims to make long, term, permanent corridor improvements which will allow removal of the traffic safety corridor designation between Anchorage and Girdwood.

This map shows the Seward Highway and its constraints, caused by its position between the steep slopes of the Chugach Mountains and the waters of the Turnagain Arm inlet, which make this section of highway particularly challenging to improve. We recognize the value of this 20, mile stretch of road to Alaskans and visitors to our state, with its world, class scenic views, wildlife, and recreational areas of Chugach State Park. Currently, we are in the early stages of this new project, which begins with environmental scoping, studies, and assessment of impacts. This process will lead to the design, development, and ultimately construction of long, term improvements.

We encourage input and participation from the community. Your insights will help ensure the needs of all Seward Highway users are considered in the project design. This project will follow the Municipality of Anchorage’s Context Sensitive Solution protocol, which will provide additional opportunities for public participation.

Safety Data

Poster Content:

Multiple thumbnail images of crash data infographics shown as an example of how the team gathers crash and data analysis information.

Online Script:

The project team has begun a safety and traffic analysis of the corridor to help us discover the primary drivers of crashes. This analysis is still in the works but here are some preliminary numbers and some key observations:

The majority of crashes occur in daylight
Drugs and alcohol are not significant factors in crashes
December, February and July have the highest rates of crashes
Most crashes occur on the weekend
Weather has a significant impact on crashes

Scoping Results: Public Feedback

Poster Content:

Public feedback comments include the following. Note that comments were not edited for grammatical errors and are presented verbatim.

I support making the Seward Highway safer.
I would love to see a paved bike path from Anchorage to Girdwood.
The current bike path runs into pull offs/parking areas which is not safe.
Safety should be the number one priority.
Avalanche mitigation should also be considered.
Highway expansion can have negative impacts on communities and the environment.
It’s important to keep pushing back on the rocks for safety.
Dedicated left turn opportunities at popular pullouts north of Indian.
Design for the long term.
Consider not putting rumble strips anywhere.
Maintain the visual aesthetics.
There needs to be turn lane at McHugh Creek.
The project funding will be a huge challenge as well.
The project should include maintenance burden.
I am happy that the prospect for creating a safer Seward Highway is moving forward.

Online Script:

What have we heard so far? We’ve heard some specific needs, many thoughts about the vision for the corridor, and much more! But one thing we wanted to highlight is that we received quite a bit of feedback on what the goals of this project should be. We shared a draft purpose and need statement during scoping, and received good public feedback. Thanks for sharing your thoughts with us. They are shaping the studies underway and our understanding of problem areas.

Scoping Results: Purpose and Need

Poster Content:

Purpose Statement:

The purpose of the Seward Highway MP 98.5 to 118, Bird Flats to Rabbit Creek, Reconstruction project is to reconstruct this segment of the highway corridor to improve safety for all users, to meet current design standards for a component of the Interstate Highway System and eliminate the current designation as a Highway Safety Corridor.

Project Need 1 Reduce High Crash Rate and Severity

Possible Improvements

Improved roadway signage.
Improved scenic and recreational pull-offs.
Increased line of sight.
Divided highway.

Measurable Result

Reduction in severe and fatal crashes.
Removal of the Safety
Corridor designation.

Project Need 2 Update to Meet Current Design Standards

Possible Improvements

Curve flattening.
Wider shoulders.
Rock and ice fall mitigation.
Additional/new guardrails.

Measurable Result

Curves, shoulders, guardrail, and clear zones that meet current design standards.

Project Need 3 Increase Mobility and Reliability

Possible Improvements

Separated multi-use pathway.
Additional passing lanes/space.
Adding turning lanes.
Adding deceleration and acceleration lanes.
Adding space for emergency response.

Measurable Result

Decrease in time spent following (platooning of traffic) and traffic delays.

Online Script:

The project intends to address three needs:

Reduce High Crash Rate and Severity. In 2006, this segment of the Seward Highway was designated as the state’s first Highway Safety Corridor in recognition of the fatal crash rate at that time. Despite additional enforcement presence, community education and improved signage, segments still have a higher, than, average crash rate and severity. Improvements that reduce the crash rate must be completed to remove the Safety Corridor designation. This need includes improving safety for non, motorized users in the corridor.

Update to Meet Current Design Standards. The existing highway does not meet current design standards for its function and traffic levels. The existing highway contains curves, shoulders, guardrails, and clear zones that do not meet current design standards. Both highway and non, motorized facility improvements need to be built to current state and national design standards.

Increase Mobility and Reliability. This highway corridor serves both regional users, who travel between Anchorage and the Kenai Peninsula, and local users, who live and work in the communities along this segment of the Seward Highway. The highway becomes congested resulting in reduced travel speeds, long platoons (lines) of vehicles, and a degraded level of service. Unexpected delays affect all travelers, reducing the reliability of travel during periods of congestion and roadway closures. Non, motorized users lack reliable, safe, continuous facilities in this corridor. Improvements need to increase travel mode choices and the reliability and accessibility of facilities.

Stakeholder Working Group

Poster Content:

We know there are no easy fixes, but there are opportunities.

We are working with a group of agency, organization, and community representatives to help us figure out some of the thorny issues. This corridor has so many unique challenges, just the steep mountains of the Chugach State Park on one side and the waters of the Turnagain Arm on the other are challenging enough, to then add on the diverse use, the railroad and recreation that happens all throughout. We are asking them to help us identify issues and ways we can compromise…all with the goal of a safer Seward Highway in mind.

Organizations:

Municipality of Anchorage
DNR, Chugach State Park
Alaska Railroad Corporation
Alaska Department of Fish & Game
Girdwood Board of Supervisors
DNR, State Historical Preservation Office
NOAA, National Marine Fisheries Services
US Army Corps of Engineers
Anchorage Metropolitan Area Transportation Solutions
Turnagain Arm Community Council
Rabbit Creek Community Council
Bike Anchorage
Alaska Trucking Association
Alaska Travel Industry Association

Online Script:

The stakeholder working group has been key in helping us to develop these concepts. We have met six times as a group, and once or twice more individually with many of these stakeholder organizations. These organizations were selected to represent major user groups in the corridor, as well as agencies and organizations that are part of the environmental process. Agencies such as NOAA and the US Army Corps of Engineers have certain requirements and considerations we must include, and it helps to have everyone in the same room to discuss because each group has different viewpoints for us and for each other to consider.

Constraints Analysis

Poster Content:

A poster of constraints analysis of the Seward Highway project corridor with aerial and topographic perspectives. Recreational access as well as wildlife data are portrayed.

Online Script:

There are a lot of constraints we are balancing. We spent quite a bit of time this summer looking at the corridor and what physical constraints are present. These are three key areas of physical constraints we have looked at: recreation, wildlife and topography. Our understanding of recreational access points comes from the Chugach State Park, databases, reports, and talking with the public. Additionally, this is also a wildlife rich environment, with sheep and moose as the two primary types of wildlife we see along the corridor. We have met with the Alaska Department of Fish and Game to identify key wildlife habitats, and have also looked at the crash data to see where high rates of wildlife conflict occur. We have mapped out both the recreational and wildlife constraints. The third type of constraint we studied was the topography of the corridor. The topography plays a large role in our concept development and ultimately, what will be able to be build.

What Now Design Concepts – Three Lane and Four Lane Alternatives

Poster Content:

What Now? Design Concepts.

3-Lane Alternating Passing

+ Smaller footprint / fewer impacts, although in areas where left turn lanes are needed, potential for similar footprint to the 4-lane.

– Would likely still contain a median barrier to maintain separation of northbound and southbound traffic

– Potential to be two lanes during heavy snow

– May need another widening project in the future

+ Less expensive

4-Lane Barrier or Median Divided

– Wider footprint / more impacts

+ Snow storage available in a median section, and quicker, more efficient snow removal

+ Median allows for space needed to add in left turn lanes where needed

+ Median space would allow for enhanced visibility in tight curve areas

+ Median would allow more recovery area for run off the road vehicles, without hitting a barrier

+ Balances through traffic vs local access traffic better by providing continuous passing opportunities

+ Less likely to need additional widening project in the future

– More expensive

The engineering team has developed what we refer to as “the sandbox.” This is a tool we use to develop and explore concepts to see how they would fit on the map. This tool contains about 10% level of engineering design, meaning, it is conceptual and meant to be used as a visual tool.

Questions? Ask a project team member with a name tag.

These next images are design concepts built based on the feedback from the public and agencies as well as engineering data and environmental field work.

Legend:

Red line is estimated cut
Green line is estimated fill
Cross hatch line is new railroad alignment
Grey line is multiuse path

Lanes

2-lane divided
alternate passing 3-lane
4-lane divided (blended median and barrier)

Online Script:

We have two concepts that have risen to the surface through our investigation and design: a 3, lane and a 4, lane. We will go into some detail about the specific pinch points along the corridor but when we talk generally about the 3, lane and 4, lane, we want to bring up a few overall points.

The map below is an interactive tool that the team refers to as “the sandbox”. On the left, hand side inside the map, you will see a 4, lane concept and a 3, lane concept drop down. Click the eyeball next to the concept you would like to view to turn it on and off. Below the concepts there are a few other levels that you can turn on and off; cadastral (right of way), hydrology, and base layers. Base layers allows you to view things like trails, where the refuge starts and stops, and locations of existing Chugach State Park facilities. You can turn on turn on all the layers by clicking the eyeball at the top of the drop down or by selecting the individual eyeballs in the drop, down options.

Again, this is meant to be a visual tool we’ve been working on to share concept level engineering to date for public feedback.

What Now Design Concepts – Three Lane and Four Lane Alternatives Visuals

Poster Content:

Four different design concepts are shown to give some perspective on the ideas being discussed. Please share your feedback.

4-lane median divided with frontage road at Indian.
Multi-use pathway near Beluga Point.
4-lane barrier divided concept at Potter Marsh.
2-Lane existing at Potter Marsh.

Online Script:

Now when we say “median divided” versus “barrier divided,” what does that mean? Here are some very conceptual level sketches to show you how that might look. Starting at the top left, we have a sketch of what a 4, lane median divided with a frontage road might look like at Indian looking north.

Moving clockwise, the top right image portrays a concept for the multi, use pathway near Beluga Point. We wanted to provide a perspective of being on the pathway to show what putting the pathway in with the road and railroad might look like. The distance between the road and the pathway has not yet been established, but this is what we are currently working with for the very tight spots along the corridor. We’ve also heard that it would be more desirable to have the pathway on the water side with access to some of the mountainside trails. Right now, we are just establishing the footprint, and the pathway could be moved to either side.

The two bottom images represent the same perspective at Potter marsh with the right side showing what currently exists, and the left side showing what a 4, lane barrier divided concept would look like. We wanted to show both images side by side for comparison. Based on our discussions in the working groups, it looks like moving out to the mud flats is going to be the best option so that we avoid impacts to Potter Marsh. With a 4, lane through here, the northbound lanes would be built where the existing road is today, and the railroad and southbound lanes would move west out on fill in the mud flats. The other thing to highlight in these sketches is the pathway shown on the Potter Marsh side.

Potters Marsh

Poster Content:

Potter Marsh diagrams comparing 3-lanes and 4-lanes.

3-Lane

Less impacts to adjacent wetlands
Left turn lane at Potter Valley Road
No need to move ARRC tracks at Potter Valley intersection
Several direct access locations to the Seward Highway

4-Lane

Potter Valley becomes only access, consolidated access improves safety
New frontage road to access trailheads and parking, south of Potter Valley intersection
Left turn lane at Potter Valley road
More impacts to the refuge on the west
Must move ARRC tracks out

Online Script:

The Potter Marsh pinch point shows a diagram comparing 3-lanes and 4-lanes in the area.

3-Lane

Less impacts to adjacent wetlands
Left turn lane at Potter Valley Road
No need to move ARRC tracks at Potter Valley intersection
Several direct access locations to the Seward Highway

4-Lane

Potter Valley becomes only access, consolidated access improves safety
New frontage road to access trailheads and parking, south of Potter Valley intersection
Left turn lane at Potter Valley road
More impacts to the refuge on the west
Must move ARRC tracks out

McHugh Creek

Poster Content:

McHugh Creek diagrams comparing 3-lanes and 4-lanes.

3-Lane

Dedicated turn lane for turning left into parking lot

4-Lane

Dedicated turn lane for turning left into parking lot

Online Script:

The McHugh Creek pinch point shows a diagram comparing 3-lanes and 4-lanes in the area.

3-Lane

Dedicated turn lane for turning left into parking lot

4-Lane

Dedicated turn lane for turning left into parking lot

Beluga Point

Poster Content:

The Beluga Point diagrams comparing 3-lanes and 4-lanes in the area.

3-Lane

Single entry / exit from parking
Pedestrian crossing
Prevent ARRC trespass
Likely access from northbound and southbound

4-Lane

Turning movements moved out of the travel way
Single entry / exit from parking
Pedestrian crossing
Precent ARRC trespass
Likely access from northbound and southbound

Online Script:

The Beluga Point pinch point shows a diagram comparing 3-lanes and 4-lanes in the area.

3-Lane

Single entry / exit from parking
Pedestrian crossing
Prevent ARRC trespass
Likely access from northbound and southbound

4-Lane

Turning movements moved out of the travel way
Single entry / exit from parking
Pedestrian crossing
Precent ARRC trespass
Likely access from northbound and southbound

Rainbow

Poster Content:

The Rainbow diagrams comparing 3-lanes and 4-lanes in the area.

3-Lane

Single entry / exit from parking
Likely access from northbound and southbound
Turning lane take the additional through lane

4-Lane

Single entry / exit from parking
Likely access from northbound and southbound

Online Script:

The Rainbow pinch point shows a diagram comparing 3-lanes and 4-lanes in the area.

3-Lane

Single entry / exit from parking
Likely access from northbound and southbound
Turning lane take the additional through lane

4-Lane

Single entry / exit from parking
Likely access from northbound and southbound

Windy Corner

Poster Content:

The Windy Corner diagrams comparing 3-lanes and 4-lanes in the area.

3-Lane

Passing only for southbound traffic
Waterside pathway access
Expanded parking

4-Lane

Turning movements have dedicated deceleration, turning bays
Waterside pathway access
Expanded parking

Online Script:

The Windy Corner pinch point shows a diagram comparing 3-lanes and 4-lanes in the area.

3-Lane

Passing only for southbound traffic
Waterside pathway access
Expanded parking

4-Lane

Turning movements have dedicated deceleration, turning bays
Waterside pathway access
Expanded parking

Indian

Poster Content:

The Indian diagrams comparing 3-lanes and 4-lanes in the area.

3-Lane

Mostly on existing alignment
Impacts the ballpark
Does not consolidate access points

4-Lane

Frontage road provides additional separation from the highway
Impacts the ballpark
Frontage road reduced direct access points improving safety

Online Script:

The Indian pinch point shows a diagram comparing 3-lanes and 4-lanes in the area.

3-Lane

Mostly on existing alignment
Impacts the ballpark
Does not consolidate access points

4-Lane

Frontage road provides additional separation from the highway
Impacts the ballpark
Frontage road reduced direct access points improving safety

Bird

Poster Content:

The Bird diagrams comparing 3-lanes and 4-lanes in the area.

3-Lane

Minimal impacts to Bird Campground

4-Lane

Community frontage road, provides for additional separation from the highway
Minor impacts to the bird campground
Frontage road reduced direct access points, improving safety

Online Script:

The Bird pinch point shows a diagram comparing 3-lanes and 4-lanes in the area.

3-Lane

Minimal impacts to Bird Campground

4-Lane

Community frontage road, provides for additional separation from the highway
Minor impacts to the bird campground
Frontage road reduced direct access points, improving safety

Screening Discussion

Poster Content:

Triangle pyramid graphic that shows the following: Concept Ideas lead to Engineering, Stakeholder Working Group (SWG), Public, Agencies, Concept, Prior studies and constraints. Then Screening Factors (we are here in the process) include Purpose & need, traffic analysis, safety analysis, project goals, practicable and reasonable. Then to Alternatives in the EA which include, No Build vs Build (1+), Detailed environmental impacts analysis Alternatives, Public and agency comment period in the EA. Next is the Environmental Analysis which includes Environmental Analysis NEPA (environmental impacts), Section 404 (wetlands & waters of the US), Section 4(f) & 6(f) (parks) and Section 106 (cultural & historic properties). Last is the Preferred Alternative which includes, Design speed, design criteria (lanes/widths), Mitigation measures, Permitting requirements. The final timeline below the whole graphic includes the Final EA, Design Phase that has Intersection Details, Final Location of Features (i.e. Pathway) and Final Footprint. Lastly is the Construction phase.

Online Script:

You might be asking “Now where do we go from here?” This meeting is the result of the top part of our screening process: we’ve examined concepts and ideas based on input from you, agencies, past studies, and a hard look at the existing constraints. We are currently working through

the “screening factors” that you see in the top orange box. The end goal of this part of the project is to select a preferred alternative in the Final EA. This will support getting the required agency permits listed in the second orange box. If we decide to build something, then the project will move into the design phase, where we will finalize the engineering and details.

Once all that is complete, we can begin construction.

Timeline

Poster Content:

A timeline graphic depicting a schedule from project initiation on January 2023 until final Environmental Assessment in January 2025. The project is currently in the Alternatives Public Metting milestone which is a quarter complete.

Online Script:

We have now progressed to about halfway through the EA process. After getting your feedback on these concepts, we will begin our study of how the project may impact the natural, physical and human environment. The analysis will be presented in the Draft EA next fall for your input and comment. We will revise the document based on public and agency input, and plan to publish a Final EA in early 2025.

Tell Us What you Think

Poster Content

We would like your feedback. Here’s what we want to know:

Concepts –any improvements? Other ideas we should look at?
Issues we should study?

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

Sign up for emails: Receive meeting notices, project announcements, and other up, to, date information in your email inbox. http://eepurl.com/ih4q3n

Leave a comment: Leave a comment using forms available here tonight 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 [email protected].

Call us: If you have any questions or require additional information, please leave a message for the project team at (907) 802, 3656.

Mailing Address

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

Scoping Results

General Project Information website: https://safersewardhighway.com

Online Script

We would like your feedback. Here’s what we want to know:

Purpose and need: Do you have suggestions for additional needs?
Alternatives: Do you have any suggestions for improvements? Other ideas we should look at?
Issues: Do you have any issues we should study?

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 tonight 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 [email protected].

Call us: If you have any questions or require additional information, please leave a message for the project team at (907) 802-3656.

Mailing Address

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

Downloadable Public Meeting Files

Presentation Link

Poster Link