Minnie Street Improvements Project No. NFWHY00509/0634005

We are working to improve Minnie Street between Illinois Street and the Noyes Slough bridge in Fairbanks, Alaska. The project does not include work on the existing bridge.

The purpose of this project is to improve Minnie Street for both motorized and non-motorized traffic, as well as for the adjacent properties. See attached documents for current design.

Improvements for non-motorized users:

Pedestrians: The roadway has sidewalk only on the north side. The sidewalk is narrow and further obstructed with utility poles and fire hydrants. The sidewalks do not have sufficient width to be accessible for persons with disabilities. The intersections with Minnie Street do not have curb ramps, providing another barrier for accessibility of non-motorized users. The proposed sidewalks will meet Americans with Disabilities requirements.

Bicycles: The existing roadway has only centerline striping. This project will delineate 10-ft lanes and 4-ft asphalt shoulders, providing required shoulder width to accommodate bicycle users.

Photos showing curb at intersections instead of a curb ramp and utilities obstructing the existing sidewalk,
not leaving enough width for people with disabilities to navigate around them.

Drainage improvements:

The roadway does not have storm drain system that would collect runoff water into catch basins and take it to a discharge point with an underground storm drain system. Currently the runoff water discharges to Noyes Slough by surface flow. Additionally, there are reports by residents to their properties holding water and their basement flooding. This project will lower the roadway elevation to collect the runoff from the adjacent land and install a storm drain system with a water treatment that will collect debris from the runoff prior to discharging it to Noyes Slough.

Photo showing existing conditions – drainage issues, overhead utilities, sidewalk only on the north side of the roadway

Roadway improvements:

The project will reconstruct the existing roadway and delineate vehicular lanes. Wider sidewalks and delineated shoulder will provide more sight distance at the intersections.

Utility improvements:

The project will relocate overhead utilities underground in a duct bank on the north side of Minnie Street. Install new potable water and sewer line where existing ones are in conflict with the proposed improvements.

ROW impacts:

In order to construct the proposed improvements, ROW acquisition will be necessary along most of the properties on Minnie Street. The proposed ROW acquisition consists of 2 feet into the adjacent properties on both sides of Minnie Street, width additional small easements to put roadway light poles, fire hydrants, and necessary utility cabinets, behind the proposed sidewalks. ROW acquisition is anticipated to begin in the fall/winter of 2026.

Our project staff is currently working on completing the environmental document. The next steps will be ROW acquisition and final design. Construction on this project is expected to begin in 2028 or later.

This project is being developed in cooperation with the Alaska Division of the Federal Highway Administration/Federal Aviation Administration, City of Fairbanks, and FAST Planning.