In 2003 the Alaska Department of Transportation and Public Facilities (DOT&PF), in partnership with the City and Borough of Juneau (CBJ) and the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA), began scoping and preliminary studies for an Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) to determine the location and conceptual design of a second Gastineau Channel crossing connecting mainland Juneau with Douglas Island.

The planned purpose of the EIS was to assess the impacts of different crossing alternatives (to the Mendenhall Wildlife Refuge, residential areas, and channel navigation, for example), identify ways to avoid and minimize the impacts, and recommend a preferred alternative – the “best solution” for FHWA approval.

The CBJ identified the second channel crossing as a high priority need in its 2001 Area Wide Transportation Plan and Congress appropriated high priority funds for preparation of an environmental impact study of the crossing. A second crossing has the potential to:

• Provide direct access to the Comprehensive Plan-designated “New Growth Area” on West Douglas and promote economic development opportunities by opening up large tracts of land for industrial, commercial, and residential development
• Improve transportation reliability and provide redundant access/safety improvements for area residents and emergency services
• Improve convenience, access, efficiency, and capacity for the movement of vehicles, freight, and goods

The core project study area encompassed an approximate 9-mile segment of the Gastineau Channel extending from the vicinity of Salmon Creek to the vicinity of the Mendenhall Peninsula/North Douglas Island.

Background

Since 1984, there have been several studies of a potential second Gastineau Channel crossing, related transportation improvements, and potential development. The studies included conducting preliminary analysis on a range of potential crossing locations (1984-Second Gastineau Channel Crossing Feasibility Study [CBJ]); exploring an extension of the North Douglas Highway (1989-North Douglas Highway Extension EIS [DOT&PF]); preparing a plan for economic development opportunities (1997–West Douglas Conceptual Plan [CBJ and Goldbelt Corporation]); and various traffic and economic studies including the Area Wide Transportation Plan (CBJ, 2001).

The City and Borough of Juneau requested and received a special appropriation from Congress for funding an EIS. DOT&PF administered the funding and managed the start of the EIS process for the Federal Highway Administration in accordance with the National Environmental Policy Act. The CBJ was the project sponsor with the FHWA as the ultimate decision maker for a federally funded project.

The EIS process was placed on hold in 2005 due to a lack of funding necessary to complete an EIS. The project website is being made available for anyone who wish to access documents generated during the scoping process, environmental baseline conditions studies, and preliminary engineering efforts.

Last updated: 08/26/2010