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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: Sept. 8, 2020
Press Release: 20-0062
Contact: Shannon McCarthy, Shannon.Mccarthy@alaska.gov, (907) 388-0887

Glenn Highway Southbound Eagle River Bridge Opens to Traffic
Ahead of Schedule
Glenn Highway Capacity Improvements Project work continues through October 2020

(ANCHORAGE, Alaska) – Alaska Department of Transportation & Public Facilities (DOT&PF) and Kiewit Construction opened the new southbound Eagle River Bridge to traffic today, Tuesday, September 8. The old southbound bridge was closed during construction and will now serve as part of a southbound frontage road system.

Further work is needed to reopen the Artillery southbound ramp, open the frontage road, restore the northbound and southbound highway to three lanes and lift speed limit reductions in the work zone. Construction is expected to be substantially complete by the first week in October.

The southbound bridge was complete and opened earlier than anticipated.

The Glenn Highway Capacity Improvements Project included:

  • Construction of a new three lane bridge on the southbound Glenn Highway (with extra capacity for further highway expansion).
  • An additional southbound lane between Artillery Road and Hiland Drive
  • Improved grades and increased safety on the southbound highway, effectively eliminating “brake light hill” for motorists
  • Construction of the southbound frontage road system, creating valuable network redundancies for use in emergencies or natural disaster

While remaining work is being completed, drivers will notice continued nighttime lane closures while barriers are removed and guardrail is installed to the new configuration.

The Glenn Highway is one of Alaska’s most important transportation links—connecting Anchorage, Eagle River, and the Valley to jobs, schools, supplies, and medical care. Approximately 55,000 commuters and commercial vehicles travel the highway each day. The Eagle River Bridge is the latest in a series of projects designed to relieve congestion and increase safety along the Glenn Highway.

The Alaska Department of Transportation and Public Facilities oversees 237 airports, 9 ferries serving 35 communities along 3,500 marine miles, over 5,600 miles of highway and 839 public facilities throughout the state of Alaska. The mission of the department is to “Keep Alaska Moving through service and infrastructure.”

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