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The Alaska Department of Transportation & Public Facilities (DOT&PF) has completed Preliminary Engineering, Environmental Analysis and Documentation necessary to analyze existing conditions and evaluate the need for changes to Huffman Road between Old Seward Highway and Lake Otis Parkway allowing the design phase to begin.
Preliminary Engineering services included evaluation of the existing alignment, roadway conditions, storm drainage, lighting, and pedestrian facilities within the project area and development of recommendations for proposed upgrades such as realignment, widening shoulders, turning pockets, general safety improvements, drainage, and pedestrian and bicycle facilities.
Environmental services included scoping to solicit the views of the public, resource agencies, and organizations, and evaluation of environmental conditions such as noise, wetlands, potential for environmental contamination, and preparation of an Environmental Checklist.
DOWL Engineers, under contract to DOT&PF, completed these efforts.
The design phase of the project is currently underway.
DOWL Engineers are drawing up detailed plans for constructing the road improvements. The road will have two distinct sections. Improvements to the east segment, from New Seward Highway to Lake Otis Parkway will include three lanes to accommodate a center left-turn lane. It will have a multi-use path on the north side and a sidewalk on the south side, right-turn pockets for eastbound and westbound traffic on Huffman Road at the Lake Otis Parkway intersection, a left-turn pocket for eastbound traffic turning onto Gregory Road (serves Bowman Elementary School), upgrading pedestrian facilities to meet current ADA standards, curb and gutter on both sides, and drainage improvements. [ Typical Section ]
Improvements to the west segment, from New Seward Highway to Old Seward Highway has proven more challenging. The design presented to the public and business community in March 2006 was to include roundabouts at all four intersections (three within the scope of the Huffman Road project and one within the scope of an Old Seward Highway project) and four lanes with either a 16-foot center left-turn lane or a raised median of varying width, continuous lighting, a multi-use path on the north side and a sidewalk on the south side, upgrading pedestrian facilities to meet current ADA standards, curb and gutter on both sides, and drainage improvements. [ Typical Section ] Businesses expressed concerns about the raised median. Through additional analysis and public involvement the design team and DOT&PF determined that a center turn-lane would be added between Industry Way and the proposed eastbound approach median to the Brandon Street intersection.
The public expressed a desire that the Huffman Road and Old Seward Highway projects be coordinated. This is occurring.
Roundabouts are planned at four intersections along the corridor [ Roundabout Plan ]:
- The east and west New Seward Highway ramps,
- Brandon Street/Huffman Park Drive, and
- Old Seward Highway. (part of the Brandon Street to O'Malley Road Reconstruction project)
 How Do You Drive Roundabouts?
To learn about how to negotiate roundabouts as a driver, a pedestrian or a bicyclist, visit the website: www.alaskaroundabouts.com.
Share this web site with your friends and neighbors. The most frequent concerns expressed by the public regarding the roundabout is the public’s poor grasp of how to properly use them. The web site has animations to illustrate these maneuvers.
The design team is interested in working through details with businesses and property owners directly affected by the proposed improvements. Please see Project Team for contact information. |
Contact the Old Seward Highway Project Team
