Copper River Highway Transportation Plan & Route Alternatives Study

Map of Copper River Highway Transportation Master Plan Study Area.

The Copper River Highway (CRH) has long served as a critical connection for the Cordova community and the broader Prince William Sound region, linking residents and visitors to essential cultural, economic, and recreational resources. However, decades of natural forces — including severe flooding, shifting river channels, and the legacy of the 1964 Good Friday earthquake — have left significant portions of the highway impassable beyond milepost 36. Recognizing this, the Alaska Department of Transportation and Public Facilities (DOT&PF), in partnership with the Federal Highway Administration and local stakeholders, developed both the Copper River Highway Transportation Master Plan and the Route Alternatives Study to chart a sustainable and resilient future for this vital corridor.

The CRH Transportation Master Plan (2023) offers a broad, community-driven vision for the entire 51-mile corridor from the Alaska Ferry Terminal in Cordova to Abercrombie Creek beyond the historic Million Dollar Bridge. Guided by extensive public input and a dedicated Stakeholder Advisory Committee, the plan identifies key priorities that balance safety, connectivity, system preservation, and environmental stewardship. Recommendations include improving multi-modal access through projects like a new pedestrian and bike pathway, restoring critical subsistence and recreational access beyond MP 51, and replacing aging infrastructure such as failing culverts to enhance fish passage and protect sensitive habitats.

Building upon this vision, the CRH Route Alternatives Study (2025) provides detailed technical analysis of feasible repair and reconstruction options between MP 27 and MP 51. It highlights options for major infrastructure investments such as constructing a new 1,600-foot bridge to replace bridges NBI #339 and #340, rebuilding eroded highway segments with elevated roadbeds to resist future flooding, and completing structural repairs and seismic retrofits on the Million Dollar Bridge. Together, these plans outline options to reconnect Cordova to its cherished natural and cultural landscapes, support economic opportunities, and strengthen the long-term resilience of the region's transportation system.