Seward Highway MP 25.5 to 36 Rehabilitation Project

The Alaska Department of Transportation and Public Facilities (ADOT&PF), in cooperation with the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) will rehabilitate 10.5 miles of the Seward Highway between the Trail River Bridge (MP 25.5) and the Sterling Wye (MP 36).

The Seward Highway is the primary land surface transportation link connecting the communities of Moose Pass and Seward to the rest of the state, thus providing a critical economic, cultural, and recreational link.

Few improvements have been made to the portion of the Seward Highway from MP 25.5 to 36 since its initial construction in 1950, except for repairs after the 1964 earthquake and flooding events.

Project Purpose

The purpose of the proposed project is to improve travel efficiency and safety along this segment of the Seward Highway and to extend the service life of the facility.

The roadway currently exhibits rutted pavement, inadequate drainage, narrow shoulders, limited passing opportunities, and faded pavement markings. The proposed project would address these deficiencies through resurfacing, restoring, and rehabilitating the corridor.

Specifically, the roadway will be rehabilitated along the existing alignment, the existing pathway will be resurfaced, guardrail will be upgraded, and drainage conditions will be improved. The project will also include shoulder widening between MP 25.5 to MP 28.8, where no separated pathway currently exists.

Project Update - February 2026

The project design is at its 95% Plans, Specifications, & Estimate milestone, and the ROW and utility coordination processes are ongoing. ROW agents representing DOT&PF have sent initial contact letters out to the impacted property owners from whom parcel acquisitions are proposed, notifying them of the project’s interest in their property, and providing them with information on the appraisal process. Coordination with utility companies is in progress.

Next Steps

Impacted property owners can expect additional communication from ROW agents representing DOT&PF as they continue to pursue acquisition of the ROW for this project. Property owners will be invited to meet with appraisers onsite. After appraisals are prepared and independently reviewed, DOT&PF will submit an offer of just compensation to each impacted owner.  The offer will take into account the fair market value of the land to be acquired, plus damages to the remainder, and costs to relocate impacted structures, improvements, belongings, and businesses. DOT&PF will make every reasonable effort to reach agreement with property owners during negotiations with property owners. Additional information about DOT&PF's ROW Acquisition process can be found in this brochure: Acquiring Real Property for Federal/Federal-Aid Programs and Projects

Coordination with utility companies regarding relocation plans and agreements will also continue.

The project team will continue to refine and finalize design during the ROW Acquisition and Utility Relocation processes.