A fight to keep the deepest fjord in North America pristine
Alaska’s Governor Frank Murkowski wants to build a new 68-mile road from Juneau to Skagway. But the majority of residents in the communities the road would connect (Juneau, Haines, and Skagway) prefer marine transportation provided by the Alaska state ferry system, also known as the Alaska Marine Highway.
A Juneau Road would dismantle a functioning public transportation system and go through 61 avalanche paths, permanently destroying hundreds of acres of vegetation, over half of which is old growth forest. The road would impact two Steller sea lion haulouts, bisect 60 miles of brown and black bear habitat (compromising the ability of bears to move freely between coastal and alpine habitats), and negatively impact a rich and abundant marine ecosystem.
The swim from Skagway through Haines and on to Juneau is planned to bring statewide and national attention to the building of a road in this astoundingly beautiful and remote terminus of the Inside Passage. Orcas, humpback whales, porpoise, seals, sea lions, bald eagles, bears, mountain goats, and five species of Pacific salmon all make their home in this remarkable wild place. A road would fragment and pollute their habitat.
Steve Vick