There will be an open house Tuesday, for residents interested in learning more about Sterling Highway construction project slated to begin next year between Milepost 45 through 60 in Cooper Landing.

The project, which has moved from the environmental analysis phase into the engineering design phase, is expected to be a five year project that will reconstruct existing roadway, widen shoulders, bring roadway curves into compliance, add passing lanes and construct about 1o miles of new road way between Milepost 46 and 55.5, bypassing the town of Cooper Landing.

According to the state Department of Transportation project overview, the new roadway will reduce stormwater runoff and potential spill risk into the Kenai River.

New intersections will be designed to connect the old and new highways, the overview said, and construction will also include a new bridge spanning Juneau Creek Canyon – soon to be the longest single-span bridge in Alaska.

“The project will provide increased safety for recreational activities and river access, reduced noise levels on the river, and decreased visual impacts as seen from the river,” the project overview said. “In terms of wildlife protection, the design features four wildlife crossing structures, including the first wildlife overpass of a highway in Alaska.”

The Federal Highway Trust Funds are anticipated to cover 90% of constuction costs of the $375 million project, and the state will be picking up the remaining 10% costs.

The Department of Transportation’s project team will be in Coopr Landing to present an update to the public in their open house event, which is from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m., on Tuesday, Oct. 29, at the Cooper Landing Community Hall in Cooper Landing.

For residents who can’t make the meeting, the Department of Transportation will stream the meeting live during their presentation.

For questions or additional information, please contact Katherine Wood, Public Involvement Lead, at 907-644-2153.