Motorists who plan on driving near the Kobuk Street and West Redoubt Avenue intersection in Soldotna can expect detours by early next week.
The intersection is being repaved and Americans with Disabilities Act-compliant sidewalk curb ramps will be installed, said Soldotna Public Works Project Manager Lee Frey. Construction on the area is underway, but will require the intersection to be shut down completely by Sunday or Monday, Frey said. The intersection closure is scheduled to last through July 27.
“We’ve actually pushed (the closure) back a little bit,” Frey said, explaining that workers need a few days for the concrete to harden before moving forward.
The closure was originally scheduled for this Friday, but Frey said that also could have created difficulties with Soldotna’s Progress Days going on.
The area was targeted for repaving after it had been having issues for a while, Frey said. Repaving the intersection now will allow the city to target road sections to the north and south later on, which Frey said is a priority for the future.
Frey said it is important drivers follow detours and other signs posted during construction and that they be watchful for flaggers in the area directing traffic. Work on the intersection is scheduled to be finished by August 5.
Soldotna is in for more work before construction season is over. A project that will address Wilson Lane and Warehouse Drive will involve repaving, upgraded ADA-compliant curb ramps, repaired damage to sidewalks or curbs and the inclusion of on-street parking.
This project is on track to start the week of August 15, Frey said, to accommodate the presence of tourists in Soldotna throughout the summer months.
He said the addition of parking in this area was something identified by the city as a priority for Soldotna.
“That was something that was in our comprehensive plan,” Frey said of the project. “Wilson Lane is a commercial district so that’s just one of the areas that we’re looking at implementing that.”
Frey said it will be interesting to see how the parking in that area goes during winter when streets are plowed.
The city will host an open house at 5 p.m. Thursday at Soldotna City Hall for the public to learn more about the Wilson Lane and Warehouse Drive project.
Reach Megan Pacer at megan.pacer@peninsulaclarion.com.
