Road work begins at Lake Otis and Tudor intersection

April 17, 2010

Plans for the expansion of the intersection at Lake Otis Parkway and Tudor Road call for more sidewalks and additional turn lanes. (Dan Carpenter/KTUU-DT)

by Rebecca Palsha
Friday, April 16, 2010

ANCHORAGE, Alaska -- Anchorage drivers have complained for years about congestion at Lake Otis Parkway and Tudor Road. The good news is that the intersection is getting some major upgrades. The bad news: you can expect some delays this summer as construction begins, with ground on the project broken Friday.

"It's going to be a disaster for all the people who work in town and live in the (Mat-Su) Valley," said one driver.

More than 70,000 people pass through Lake Otis and Tudor every day. It can be hectic, slow and a big pain.

"I think they should dig a big trench through it, build a bridge over it and be done with it," said another driver.

At Friday's ceremony, officials laid out the project's plans.

"This project is a $23 million project -- it adds a lot of safety improvements, pedestrian improvements," said Sen. Mark Begich.

"This project will consist of building two additional lanes in all four directions, and it will have additional turn lanes on westbound and eastbound," said Department of Transportation project engineer Chong Kim.

In the meantime, at least until July, look for alternative routes.

"Use Elmore, new Elmore Road over there, and then use the East Dowling tie-ins," Kim said. "And then use alternative routes, two of them, Northern Lights and some of the areas that (are) avoiding this area will be great."

Improvements are on the way, but in the meantime you may want to drive in a different direction.

The project is to be completed by October, with most of the work done by July. Lane restrictions will be allowed at night, and the intersection may be closed entirely for up to six weekends during the summer.

Contact Rebecca Palsha at rpalsha@ktuu.com

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