Construction season coming to a close

Construction season coming to a close

Some will be completed by the end of construction season; others will be picked up next spring.

As the days get shorter and winter weather makes its way to the Kenai Peninsula, the major road construction projects in the area have started wrapping up and winding down. Some will be completed by the end of construction season, but others will have work left to do next spring.

Beaver Loop Road Improvements and Pedestrian Pathway

The Alaska Department of Transportation, in cooperation with Quality Asphalt Paving, has been resurfacing the length of Beaver Loop Road from Bridge Access Road to the Kenai Spur Highway, according to the project information on Alaska Navigator. The project includes the construction of a separated pedestrian pathway. Work has included grading, drainage improvements, illumination, guardrail installation, signing and striping.

DOT Project Engineer Jason Baxley said that everything is currently on schedule. Next week, crews will be paving the bottom layer of asphalt on the road, and Baxley said that he expects crews to be working until mid-October at the latest.

ADVERTISEMENT
0 seconds of 0 secondsVolume 0%
Press shift question mark to access a list of keyboard shortcuts
00:00
00:00
00:00
 

Next spring, crews will return to pave the top layer of asphalt on the road and finish paving the pedestrian path.

Kenai Spur Highway Rehabilitation, Sports Lake to Swire Road

The Alaska Department of Transportation and Public Facilities, in cooperation with Wolverine Construction, has been working to expand the Kenai Spur Highway to five lanes from Mile 5 to Mile 8, according to the project information on Alaska Navigator.

DOT Project Engineer Marcus Forkner said that crews are set to wrap up by the end of October. The first round of paving will begin in the next few days, Forkner said Thursday, and he expects that work to be done by the end of this week.

As phase one of the project is completed, that portion of the highway will remain two lanes through the winter. Temporary striping will be in place to direct traffic, and Forkner said that he expects the speed limit to stay at 45 mph through the winter. A temporary pedestrian pathway will be in place to allow access through the construction zone.

Forkner said that there will be about a month and a half worth of work to be done next year before the project is completed.

Crews are working on and off of the roadway from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. During paving next week, drivers should expect pilot car operations with extended delays.

Sterling Highway Shoulder Widening

DOT has been working to widen the shoulders on the Sterling Highway from Mile 97 to Mile 118 between Soldotna and Clam Gulch. The work also included the installation of four large-diameter culverts at Slikok Tributary, Crooked Creek, Clam Gulch and Coal Creek.

DOT Project Engineer Jake Goodell said that crews are wrapping up peripheral work on this project, which includes installing highway lighting, street signs and delineation treatments. Goodell expects work to be “about 99% finished” by Oct. 15, and crews will return next spring for about two more weeks worth of work. Next year, crews will be confirming that the grass planted during construction has grown in sufficiently along the highway and will then remove the artificial stormwater mitigation measures in place.

Goodell said to expect short flagging zones for the next week as crews finish their work, and next year’s work will be off the road and will have a minimal impact on traffic.

Currently, crews are working from 8 a.m. to 7 p.m. seven days a week. Construction crews are present on the roadway from Ski Hill Road to North Cohoe Loop Road, and drivers should expect slight delays.

A high number of moose have been sighted along the project corridor. Drivers are advised use caution while traveling, especially at night.

Sterling Highway Rehabilitation from Skilak Lake to Sterling

DOT, in partnership with Granite Construction, has been working to improve road conditions on the Sterling Highway from Mile 58 to Mile 79 between Sterling and the east end of Skilak Lake Road. Work has included upgrading passing lanes and the pedestrian walkway for Skyline Trail, road resurfacing, shoulder widening and replacement of the East Fork Moose River culvert.

DOT Project Engineer Shaun Combs said that although activity from the Swan Lake Fire delayed work by several weeks, most of the major work including asphalt paving will be completed before winter.

All permanent guardrails are in place, and both layers of asphalt will be paved by next Thursday or Friday if weather permits, Combs said.

Combs said that he expects to return to the project around next May or June, but most of the work will consist of peripheral tasks, like permanent striping and signage which should be completed by mid-June of 2020.

For the remainder of the season, pilot car operations will be in place, with two cars running during the day and one car running at night to minimize traffic delays.

For the latest information on all construction projects, visit Alaskanavigator.org.

More in News

Concert-goers listen to The Discopians at Concert on the Lawn on Saturday, July 12, 2025, at Karen Hornaday Park in Homer, Alaska. (Delcenia Cosman/Homer News)
‘Dancing at the end of the world’

KBBI AM 890 hosted their annual Concert on the Lawn Saturday.

Lisa Gabriel unfurls a set beach seine during a test fishery for the gear near Clam Gulch, Alaska, on Wednesday, July 9, 2025. (Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion)
Seine test fishery continues after board of fish calls for more data

The east side setnet fishery has been entirely closed in recent years to protect Kenai River king salmon

Jason Criss stands for a photo in Soldotna, Alaska, after being named a qualifier for the Special Olympics USA Games on Thursday, July 10, 2025. (Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion)
Soldotna athlete to compete in 2026 Special Olympics USA Games

Thousands of athletes from across all 50 states will be competing in 16 sports.

The entrance to the Homer Electric Association office is seen here in Kenai, Alaska on May 7, 2020. (Photo by Brian Mazurek/Peninsula Clarion)
HEA opens bids for real property

The deadline to submit bids is 5 p.m. on Aug. 11.

Arturo Mondragon-Lopez, Jr. (right) attends a change of plea hearing related to the October 2023 fatal shooting of Brianna Hetrick on Wednesday, Feb. 5, 2025, at the Homer Courthouse in Homer, Alaska. (Delcenia Cosman/Homer News)
Mondragon-Lopez sentenced for death of Homer woman

Arturo Mondragon-Lopez, Jr. accepted a plea deal in February for the shooting of Brianna Hetrick.

Soldotna City Hall is seen on Wednesday, June 23, 2021 in Soldotna, Alaska. (Ashlyn O’Hara/Peninsula Clarion)
Soldotna OKs $395,000 capital plan

This year’s list of capital projects is “nominal compared to some past years,” according to officials.

A map of areas proposed for annexation by the City of Soldotna. (Provided by City of Soldotna)
Soldotna adds annexation proposal to ballot

The proposed annexation is split across five small areas around the city.

Nets are extended from North Kenai Beach in Kenai, Alaska, during the first day of the Kenai River personal use dipnet fishery on Thursday, July 10, 2025. (Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion)
‘A really good day’

Kenai River personal use sockeye salmon dipnet fishery opens.

The entrance to the Kenai Peninsula Borough building in Soldotna is seen here on June 1. (Photo by Brian Mazurek/Peninsula Clarion)
Borough assembly to consider ordinance to increase residential property tax exemption

If approved by voters in October, the ordinance would increase the tax exemption by $25,000.

Most Read

You're browsing in private mode.
Please sign in or subscribe to continue reading articles in this mode.

Peninsula Clarion relies on subscription revenue to provide local content for our readers.

Subscribe

Already a subscriber? Please sign in