Wendell Avenue Bridge Project No. 63291

The Alaska Department of Transportation and Public Facilities (DOT&PF) is replacing the Wendell Avenue Bridge at the Chena River. Construction started in summer 2020 and is expected to be complete at the end of the 2021 construction season. The bridge was constructed in 1953 and needed extensive structural repairs in addition to wider sidewalks for pedestrians and bicycles. The cost of updating and retrofitting the bridge was the same or less than replacing it, so DOT&PF moved forward with replacement.

The purpose of this project is to improve the safety and service of the Wendell Avenue Bridge. The project includes:

• Replacing the Wendell Avenue Bridge
• Improving pedestrian and bicycle facilities on the bridge through wider sidewalks and road shoulders
• Creating an improved transportation link to the bridge for pedestrians and bicycle users traveling between Graehl Park north of the Chena River and Griffin Park on the south side

Construction crews work to remove the existing Wendell Avenue Bridge in February 2021
after the temporary work trestle was constructed. Photo courtesy of Corey DiRutigliano

Construction Details

The Wendell Avenue Bridge will be CLOSED from September 1, 2020 until approximately October 15, 2021. That means it will be closed through the winter and the 2021 construction season. During the closure, HC Contractors will be demolishing the old bridge and building the new one.

Drivers can use the Illinois Street Bridge to detour around the construction zone. Pedestrians and bicycles can use Clay Street to cross the river at the Steese Highway.

Boating and Floating on the Chena River in 2021

Bridge construction at University Avenue and Wendell Avenue will impact river travelers throughout the summer of 2021. Please download and share our Chena River Notice to Boaters and Floaters flyer with anyone who plans to travel on the Chena River through town this summer.

It is very important that you know how to control your boat when navigating the construction zones around the bridges. The channels will be narrower with faster water, there may be hazards in the water, and you may need to yield to other traffic traveling under the bridge.

We expect the Chena River to remain open to river traffic all summer with the exception of intermittent closures of about 20 minutes when the construction crews are placing girders or removing structures from over the river channel. Flaggers and signs will notify river travelers of the temporary closures. Please pay attention to all signs along the river and at boat launches so you know what to expect, and please remember to always wear a life jacket while on the river.