Manley Hot Springs Slough Bridge #0272 Replacement
Project No. NRMBS00833

Project Overview

The Manley Village Council (Tribe) in cooperation with the State of Alaska Department of Transportation and Public Facilities (DOT&PF) propose to replace the Manley Hot Springs Slough Bridge #0272 located in Manley Hot Springs, Alaska. The Tribe sponsored and secured Federal Tribal Transportation Bridge Program Funds to replace the existing Manley Hot Springs Slough Bridge #0272.

Photo of Manley Hot Springs Slough Bridge #0272

Project Purpose and Need

The purpose of this project is to improve safety, bridge reliability, and the bridge's ability to accommodate heavy and large vehicles/equipment.

The project is needed because the existing single lane bridge is considered functionally obsolete and near the end of its service life.

The existing bridge has substandard height and width clearance constraints that limit the size and type of equipment that can cross the slough, reducing service accessibility for the surrounding community and the airport.

Over time it has sustained damage from multiple over-height vehicle/equipment collisions, all which have compromised the integrity of the truss bridge and increased maintenance requirements.

The single lane, 12-foot wide bridge forces pedestrians and bicyclists to travel in the motorized travel lane to cross the bridge.

Proposed Scope

This project proposes to replace the Manley Hot Springs Slough Bridge #0272. The new 2-span bridge will have one pier located in the middle of the slough. The bridge will have two 12-foot vehicle lanes, 2-foot shoulders, and an 8-foot wide dedicated pedestrian path on the east (upstream) side of the bridge.

Project area map

Project Impacts and Challenges

Right-of-Way acquisitions will be required for this project. The proposed new bridge is approximately 25 feet wider and 4 feet higher than the existing structure, resulting in a larger overall footprint.

The Manley Hot Springs Slough Bridge #0272 is a historic bridge and is eligible for listing on the National Register of Historic Places (NRHP). The removal of the bridge is an adverse effect to a historic property under Section 106 of the National Historic Preservation Act. DOT&PF will be working with consulting parties to develop an agreement to mitigate the adverse effect.

Manley Hot Springs Slough Bridge provides the only vehicular access across the slough into the Community of Manley. Throughout the course of the project, intermittent short term traffic closures will be required. To maintain access throughout the anticipated two-year construction period, a temporary detour bridge will be constructed to allow public traffic across the slough.