Site work and paving for a road / highway in Homer, Alaska. Conceptual plans call for site work for a road / highway; and for paving for a road / highway.

This project constructs a separated non-motorized pathway along Kachemak Drive from East End Road to Ocean Drive. Kachemak Drive, a State-owned/operated road in the City of Homer, is a primary east-west transportation corridor. It is a 35-miles per hour, narrow, winding road with essentially no shoulders, only side-slopes and drainage ditches along most of its length. The road provides access to a state airport with general aviation businesses, light industrial businesses, private residents and connects the Homer Spit to several marine storage and repair businesses, most notably Northern Enterprises, the largest industrial marine storage, repair and boat launch complex on the southern Kenai Peninsula. As a major truck route and commuter route for residents in Kachemak City and other communities further out East End Road, traffic is often heavy, with over 1,500 vehicles daily. Kachemak Drive is also a tsunami evacuation route and is the only alternate route connecting Homer to East End Road should emergencies close the primary west to east Pioneer Avenue route. Kachemak Drive is also heavily used by pedestrians and cyclists. Bicycle traffic has increased over the years due to the advent of wide-tire winter bicycles and Homer's increasing popularity as a bicycle-friendly town. Recreational and commuter bicyclists and pedestrians use Kachemak Drive to connect to non-motorized paths along the Homer Spit, Ocean Drive, and East End Road. However Kachemak Drive is inherently unsafe for non-motorized users due to narrow lane width, the lack of shoulders, traffic levels and design speed. Cyclists are forced to the left of the fog line. Motorists typically slow down behind bicyclists, wait until there is no oncoming traffic, then pass by crossing the center line. This condition is dangerous to motorists and cyclists, especially on curves and the hill leading up from the base of the Spit to the airport, where visibility is low -- creating the perfect storm for conflict between motorized and non-motorized users at best, and injury or fatalities at worst. The benefit of constructing a two-lane, unpaved separated path that runs parallel to Kachemak Drive is two-fold. Foremost, it will significantly improve safety for non-motorized users, provide greater accessibility and pedestrian path connectivity, as well as a higher quality of life for residents and visitors alike. The project, if coupled with the Green Infrastructure Erosion Mitigation project will aid in road longevity by mitigating significant frost heaving caused by ground water. As of January 9, 2025, this project is included in the City of Homer's FY 2025-2030 CIP. Information regarding a design firm and the general contractor selection timeline has not been disclosed. A firm construction timeline has not been released. *Project information has been obtained through a public capital improvement plan (CIP). A CIP is a financial schedule for short- and long-range projects which is updated regularly. Information listed in the CIP often evolves based on funding availability and the project details, including timeline and value, are subject to change. The content management team will continue to pursue additional details as they become available.