Motorists can expect at least two of the major road construction projects around Kenai — the Beaver Loop Road Improvement and the Kenai Spur Highway Rehabilitation — to be finished by the end of July.
The Beaver Loop Road Improvement Project is “98%” done, according to Jason Baxley, project engineer with the Department of Transportation and Public Facilities.
Crews with DOT and QAP construction company were working Monday to seed the topsoil that separates the pedestrian pathway from the road. Baxley said putting in the grass and installing some street lights at the larger intersections were the last steps before the project is complete. The road and pedestrian pathway have been paved and the pathway is currently accessible, although Baxley warned that construction equipment will still be entering and exiting the roadway while they finish the work.
The project was originally scheduled to last through the construction season, but Baxley said he expects the work to be done by next week.
This week, motorists should still expect the occasional flagging operation in the area with minimal wait times.
On the Kenai Spur Highway, crews with DOT and Wolverine Construction are preparing to stripe the highway and pave the pedestrian pathway in the construction zone between Sports Lake Road and Swires Road.
DOT Project Engineer Marcus Forkner said on Monday that the top layer of asphalt on the highway should be fully paved by this Wednesday, and the rest of the project is expected to be completed in July.
The ultimate goal of the project is to expand the highway to five lanes — two running in each direction and one center turning lane — but until the striping is complete, Forkner said that traffic will continue to run in two lanes down the center of the roadway.
Motorists should expect flagging operations in the area, and the speed limit has been reduced to 45 mph in the construction zone.
