Cowles Street Reconstruction – Airport Way to East Cowles

The Cowles Street Reconstruction project is now underway! We are CLOSING a portion of Cowles Street at 9PM on Wednesday, May 21, 2025. This closure will last most of the summer.

The closure will affect how you access the Fairbanks Memorial Hospital, including the emergency room. It will also affect how you access some businesses. See the map below.

2025 Cowles Street closure detour map

To access the hospital emergency room from Airport Way, you can use Wilbur Street to Davis Road, then turn north on Cowles Street. You can also use Gillam Way to 19th Avenue.

To access the parking lot for Shopper's Forum, use the frontage road along Airport Way.

Project details

The purpose of this project is to improve the corridor for both motorized and non-motorized users. We are making some changes to the existing layout which will eliminate some of the closely spaced maneuvers near the Cowles Street and Airport Way intersection.

Work on this project includes:

• Reconstructing, repaving and restriping the roadway
• Upgrading sidewalks on the west side and constructing a separated path on the east side
• Removing the existing Rectangular Flashing Beacon and realigning the sidewalks to the Airport Way signalized intersection
• Providing shoulders or separated path for bicycle users
• Closing the access from the Frontage Roads onto Cowles
• Upgrading the Cowles/Kennicott traffic signal and providing a signal head for each lane
• Narrowing the entrance to the southbound lane just south of the Kennicott intersection to make it clear to the drivers that there is only one lane south of the intersection
• Installing curb ramps and other ADA improvements
• Upgrading the storm drain system
• Upgrading existing street lighting
• Installing new signs

This project is being constructed as part of the larger Cowles Street Reconstruction project, which extends between First Avenue, across Airport Way, to East Cowles. The project is developed and constructed in cooperation with the City of Fairbanks, the Alaska Division of the Federal Highway Administration and the local metropolitan planning organization, FAST Planning.

This project is the first stage of the Cowles Street Reconstruction project. The second stage will improve Cowles Street between First Avenue and Airport Way and is currently scheduled for construction in 2028.

You can find updated traffic information at 511.alaska.gov and learn more about this project and others across the state at dot.alaska.gov/construction/.

If you have questions about construction, please contact:
traffic@grtnw.com or 907-452-5617