ANCHORAGE, Alaska — The kickoff to Anchorage summer construction season remains weeks away, and the Alaska Department of Transportation has two major projects for the state's biggest city.
The first project will expand West Dowling Road and widen the road from two-lanes to five lanes from Old Seward Highway west. The project would also extend the road and connect to C Street.
A nearby business that could be affected by the construction is Quality Transmission. Co-owner Greene Nickell says while the expansion is wiping out a large portion of the shop's parking lot, the end result will be worth it.
"Once it's done, it's going to be great. Car count is going to be up, we own this building so the value of the building will go up, a nice road going through -- I'm looking forward to it being done," Nickell said. "It's going to be good for business in the long run."
DOT project manager Tony Sprague says West Dowling may be closed except for business access for a few months when construction begins on the bridge over Campbell Creek.
"If all the stars align, we may end up with a new road by the end of fall; if not, we may push into next season to try to complete it," Sprague said.
Construction costs for the West Dowling project are just under $14 million. The second project DOT has planned is more expensive -- close to $40 million-- and would add a northbound and southbound lane to the New Seward Highway between Tudor Road and Dowling Road.
"We always appreciate the patience of people while we're building these projects," Sprague said. "Just keep in mind that the ultimate goal is to have a safe and efficient movement of traffic."
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