Parks Highway / Sheep Creek Road Extension Traffic Signal (HSIP)
Project No. NFHWY00898/0A45(032)

Public Outreach & Previous Alternatives

As part of the HSIP nomination for improvements at this intersection, the Department analyzed the type of crashes and determined that installing a traffic signal is the most effective safety countermeasure to address the specific types of crashes occurring here. In addition to signalizing the intersection, the project will also:

• Post "SIGNAL AHEAD" signs and install the "PREPARE TO STOP" overhead flashing signs on the Parks Highway, similar to those on the Mitchell and Steese Expressways.
• Modify roadway geometry so that in icy conditions vehicles turning left from Sheep Creek onto the Parks Highway are less likely to inadvertently cross into the adjacent through lane.
• Reduce the existing superelevation and adjust the Parks Highway profile to flatten the intersection.
• Construct a median between the acceleration lane and the through lane to physically separate the inside lane dedicated to receiving left-turning vehicles from the Sheep Creek Road Extension and the adjacent lane dedicated for vehicles traveling on the Parks Highway toward Fairbanks.
• Improve non-motorized safety at the intersection by signalizing the crossing and providing pavement markings and raised medians or islands to separate vehicles and non-motorized users.

For public meeting and public comments, we showed the following intersection layout:

Project Area

Additionally, to address the crashes of the right turning traffic from the Sheep Creek Road Extension, the two following alternatives were considered:

• Alternative A: Provide a right-turn auxiliary lane to allow right-turning vehicles from the Sheep Creek Road Extension to reach highway speed before merging with the Parks Highway through traffic.
• Alternative B: Offset the Parks Highway right-turn lane from the through lane to provide visual separation and reduce right turning driver confusion about which lane is occupied.

Alternative A: Right-Turn Auxiliary Lane

Alternative B: Right-Turn Auxiliary Lane

A signalized intersection concept was presented at the project Open House on April 2, 2025 and during FAST Planning’s Bicycle & Pedestrian Advisory Committee on April 24, 2025. The proposed concept featured two alternatives for addressing the crashes of the right turning traffic from Sheep Creek Road Extension:

• Alternative A proposed an auxiliary lane for the southbound right turn, ending with a merge with the westbound Parks Highway through lane; and
• Alternative B proposed offsetting the westbound right turn lane.

This project was nominated to reduce angle crashes between southbound right-turn lane and the westbound through traffic. Both alternatives meet the purpose of the project.
The public was solicited for their opinion on the overall concept of signalizing the intersection and the two alternatives.  To date, we have received nearly 75 comments about the project and the proposed design.

• 70% of the comments support the Department’s efforts to reduce crashes and to improve safety at the intersection.
• 13 comments explicitly state a preference for an alternative: 7 comments state a preference for Alternative A; 4 comments state a preference for Alternative B; and 2 comments state a preference for a combination of Alternatives A and B.

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