Parnell Praises DOT’s New Juneau Road Plan; Opponent calls for Caution

Tom Warne Report, 29 September 2014

Alaska Dispatch – September 18, 2014

JUNEAU – Shortly after the Alaska Department of Transportation released a new plan for a Juneau road Thursday, Gov. Sean Parnell’s re-election campaign came out with its own release, emphasizing his support for the road. He also challenged his gubernatorial opponent Bill Walker to follow suit.

Plans for the officially named “Juneau Access Project” estimate building costs to be $574 million, which is $100 million more than the original estimate in 2006. The new plans and cost projections were part of a new draft supplemental environmental impact statement released by the Alaska DOT. The project would build a 50-mile road from Juneau to a new ferry terminal at the Katzehin River. Travelers would then board shuttle ferries to Haines and Skagway, where they could connect to the Alaska Highway that extends through Canada.

Gov. Parnell mentioned several reasons for his support of the project in a press release from his campaign. “As governor, I have fought for this project because I know it will create jobs, increase access, and grow economic opportunity for Southeast Alaskans.”

Meanwhile, Parnell’s opponent said he would not take a stand until the state determined whether it could find the funding to build the road.

“We’re in the biggest fiscal deficit in our state’s history and this administration has no plans of recovery,” Walker said.

The story in the Alaska Dispatch has a very political tone to it, which is unfortunate because the real debate should be about the inherent project challenges and opportunities, which are very significant.  Building this road, if it is built, will be a tremendous improvement towards connecting Juno with its neighbors, but will also be a monumental engineering challenge with extreme winter weather conditions and incredibly rugged terrain.

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