Glenn Highway Bridge Deck Preservation

State/Federal Project No: CFHWY00523/0001685

We are working to rehabilitate three bridges along the Glenn Highway: the northbound and southbound Knik River bridges, just south of the Glenn/Parks interchange, and the northbound Peters Creek bridge near Chugiak. All three of these bridges are over 30 years old, and two are almost 60 years old (the northbound Knik River bridge and northbound Peters Creek Bridge were both constructed in the 1960s). The bridges have potholes, ruts, and other maintenance issues that need to be repaired. The purpose of this work is to extend the service lives of the bridges, reduce maintenance costs, and enhance safety.
Work on this project will include the following:

• Repairing potholes in the concrete decks
• Installing polyester concrete overlay to waterproof the bridges and reduce corrosion
• Replacing the approach slabs to improve the driving surface
• Replacing the expansion joints, damaged drainage hardware, and guardrail as needed
• Upgrading signs and pavement markings
• Working on utilities as needed

Figure 1. An aerial photo of the Knik River bridges. Photo credit Jonathan Tymick, DOT&PF.

How will this impact me?

Once this project is complete drivers will have a smoother and safer driving experience. In the meantime, we have some construction to get done. Work will occur on the Knik River bridges in 2024 and 2025, followed by the Peters Creek bridge in 2025 and 2026. Continue to check 511.alaska.gov for the most up to date traffic impacts.

2024 Impacts

We will begin work on this project in September 2024. During this time, crews will construct a temporary road that crosses over the median before and after the Knik River bridges. These detours will help accommodate traffic shifts during the 2025 construction season. Drivers should expect lane closures and crews near the roadway. Most of the work will happen at night. The bridges will remain OPEN.

2025 Impacts

We will close each of the Knik River bridges for 30 days at a time while they are being rehabilitated. When one bridge is closed the other will remain open to three lanes of traffic, two in one direction and one in the other. There will be two lanes of southbound traffic open during the morning rush to Anchorage. Crews will then shift the median, and open two lanes of northbound traffic during the afternoon rush back to the Mat-Su Valley. Drivers should expect congestion and delays.

Figure 2. Three lanes of traffic will be maintained on the open bridge and the middle lane will alternate directions depending on the time of day.

Timeline

• September 2024: Temporary detour construction on both sides of the Knik River bridges. Intermittent lane closures at night. Bridges remain OPEN. Construction will last until October.

• Spring 2025: One Knik River bridge closes for 30 days. Traffic is shifted onto the open bridge.

• Summer 2025: Construction on the first Knik River bridge is complete and it reopens. The second bridge closes for 30 days and traffic shifts onto the newly preserved bridge.

• Summer 2025/26: Crews work to preserve Peters Creek bridge.

New construction equipment comes to Alaska!

You might be wondering how we're going to move the concrete medians separating traffic every day and allow the middle lane of traffic to alternate directions. Enter the Road Zipper! This machine drives down the median, picks up the heavy concrete dividers up and sets them down in their new position. This will allow the crews to shift the median along the 1,532-foot-long bridges twice a day in as little as 15 minutes! Check out this video of a Road Zipper in action:

The Sergeant James Bondsteel Bridge of Honor

The northbound Knik River bridge is named after Sergeant James Bondsteel, a recipient of the U.S. Medal of Honor. Born in Michigan, Sergeant Bondsteel served with the U.S. Marine Corps in Korea and then with the U.S. Army in Vietnam. His actions during the 1969 Battle of Anloc in Vietnam that earned him the Medal of Honor.

After retiring in the 1980s with over 20 years of military service, Sergeant Bondsteel moved to Alaska where he worked as a counselor at the Wasilla Vet Center and the U.S. Veteran's Administration in Anchorage. Tragically, Sergeant Bondsteel was killed on the northbound Knik River bridge in 1987 at only 39 years of age when a trailer of logs became detached from a logging truck and crashed into his vehicle. 

In 2002 the northbound Knik River bridge was named the "Sergeant James Bondsteel Bridge of Honor" to commemorate his life. While working on this project, we will not only preserve the structural integrity of the bridge, but also remember and honor the man it is named after, Sergeant James Bondsteel.

Questions?

Jason Lamoreaux, DOT&PF Construction Project Manager
Email: Jason.Lamoreaux@alaska.gov
Phone: 907-269-0664