Site work for a road / highway in Anchorage, Alaska. Completed plans call for site work for a road / highway.

Although most project work is expected to be within existing DOT&PF right-of-way (ROW), the proposed project will affect a small area, approximately 0.4 acres, of Chugach State Park during rock slope blasting and vegetation clearing. In order to effectively mitigate rock and ice fall hazards, avoidance of impacts to the Park are not possible given the close proximity between the roadway and the rockface. Blasting of the rock slope will provide a wider ditch and catchment area for future potential rock and ice falls to prevent debris from impacting and covering the Seward Highway. The nearest developed resource of Chugach State Park is the Turn again Arm Trail, which is approximately 320 feet further uphill from the rockface. During rock blasting and cleanup activities, the Seward Highway and Turn again Arm Trail would be temporarily closed with advanced public notice of the closure. After construction, rock slope stabilization hardware, such as bolts, mesh, and/or netting, would be permanently installed to the rockface to mitigate rock fall events. Primary impacts to the affected area would be changes in visual appearance from blasting, vegetation removal, and installation of permanent rockfall mitigation hardware. Any permanently installed hardware will be camouflaged to reduce visibility of the hardware from the Seward Highway and any nearby recreational trails and/or areas. DOT&PF will acquire a permanent easement from ADNR to allow DOT&PF crews to access and maintain the installed hardware. The proposed impacts would not permanently restrict access to Chugach State Park or other recreational facilities near the project area. Because the affected area does not contain any developed features or support regular recreational activities, no adverse impacts are expected. If you have any questions or require additional information, please contact Sean Baski, P.E., Highway Design Chief, at 907-269-0566 or sean.baski@alaska.gov. Construction for the proposed project is anticipated to begin in Summer 2026.