What’s Happening with the Road
The Department of Transportation is working to finalize the mandatory environmental study on the proposed road this fall. DOT will hold a second round of public hearings before issuing their Record of Decision later in the year.
Despite the public opposition to the proposed road, politicians are scrambling to find funding for the quarter-billion dollar road.
Juneau area Representative Bruce Weyrauch secured $5 million in State general fund money with the intent constructing the proposed road to the proposed Kensington Gold Mine in Berners Bay.
Meanwhile, the US Congress is currently considering a reauthorization of the Transportation Bill which includes a $15 million set aside for construction of the Juneau Road.
The State is still a long way off from securing enough money to construct the road, however, if the project does move forward, funding could be taken from other critical transportation projects around Alaska to pay for the Juneau road.
Steve Vick