Alternatives Considered

ALTERNATIVES I-IV

All Alternatives Considered MapPDF icon(2.55 MB)

In 2005, Section 4407 of Public Law 109-59 allowed the US Forest Service (USFS) and the State of Alaska to enter into a Memorandum of Understanding, granting a recorded reciprocal easement from the end of the Ward Lake Road (Revilla Road) near Lake Harriet Hunt to Shelter Cove. This easement is Alternative I of the four alternatives under consideration. Other alternatives could use portions of this easement combined with new construction and/or connect and upgrade existing logging road systems, as feasible. After field reconnaissance and review of preliminary geotechnical information, the DOT&PF is considering four main alignments beginning near Lake Harriet Hunt and ending at the existing Shelter Cove Road system.

ALTERNATIVE I – HIGH ROAD CORRIDOR

Alternative I MapPDF icon(3.12 MB)

The High Road Corridor follows the USFS Reciprocal Easement and is the most northerly, upland route from Lake Harriet Hunt to Leask Lake. After Leask Lake, the road turns northeast until it joins the existing road system from Shelter Cove. This corridor is 19 miles long, 8 miles of which use existing logging roads. This route would require approximately 11 miles of new road from Lake Harriet Hunt to the junction with the existing Shelter Cove road system from the Shelter Cove side.

ALTERNATIVE II - LOW ROAD CORRIDOR

Alternative II MapPDF icon(3.09 MB)

The Low Road Corridor follows logging roads from the Ketchikan side to Leask Cove and continues along George Inlet and Salt Lagoon, connecting to the existing Shelter Cover Road. This corridor offers the possibility of a connection to Shelter Cove road with 5.9 miles or more of new road construction along George Inlet and the Salt Lagoon. Alternative II also offers four potential routes that vary in length from 17.3 to 23.0 miles. The routes within this corridor use existing logging roads to varying degrees.

ALTERNATIVE III – HIGH/LOW ROAD CORRIDOR

Alternative III MapPDF icon(3.08 MB)

The High-Low Road Corridor follows the Reciprocal Easement to Leask Lake, as in Alternative I, drops down to George Inlet at Leask Cove. From there, it follows the Low Road Corridor as in Alternative II, along George Inlet and Salt Lagoon to the existing Shelter Cove road. This alternative is 22 miles long with the use of approximately 8 miles of existing logging roads.

ALTERNATIVE IV – LOW/HIGH ROAD CORRIDOR

Alternative IV MapPDF icon(3.13 MB)

The Low-High Road Corridor follows the Low Road Corridor as in Alternative II to Leask Cove where it turns northerly using existing logging roads on Mental Health Trust land to connect with the Reciprocal Easement east of Leask Lake. This alignment crosses the Naha LUD II Reserve area (Naha). This corridor offers an inland alternative of connecting Leask Cove with the existing Shelter Cove logging road system. Depending on the exact alignment, this corridor is approximately 20 miles long and offers the possibility of a connection to Shelter Cove with 5.4 miles of new road.