(JUNEAU, Alaska) – Alaska Department of Transportation and Public Facilities (ADOT&PF) today announced the release of the West Susitna Access Reconnaissance Study. The document is available for review online at dot.alaska.gov/westsusitna.

ADOT&PF contracted with multi-disciplinary engineering and planning firm HDR Alaska to:

• Identify resource use and development opportunities west of the Susitna River.

• Identify one or more potential crossings of the Susitna River.

• Identify one or more potential transportation corridors to access identified resources.

The 6.2 million acre area of study has many known and suspected resource and economic development opportunities but lacks year-round access. The report shows the result of these efforts and illustrates the economic potential of the study area.

“Reliable transportation access helps make development and resource use more likely and affordable,” said ADOT&PF Commissioner Pat Kemp. “This report shows what opportunities are on the west side of the Susitna River and will serve as the foundation for a broad public discussion on the possibility of providing access.”

No specific routes have been selected and no other decisions have been made. The public is encouraged to review the report and provide comments, suggestions and questions. Responses are requested by Feb. 28, 2014 and may be sent via the online form at dot.alaska.gov/westsusitna.

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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