Sitka Katlian Bay Road Project #67672

Project Description

The Alaska Department of Transportation and Public Facilities (DOT&PF) proposes to construct a state funded road project on Baranof Island in the vicinity of Katlian Bay, in the City and Borough of Sitka, Alaska (Figure 1). The Katlian Bay Road project would construct approximately nine miles of new single-lane, unpaved road with bridge crossings, beginning at the northern end of Halibut Point Road, extending east along the south shoreline of Katlian Bay, crossing the Katlian River, and ending four miles east of the Katlian Bay estuary at the boundary between Shee Atika and U.S. Forest Service Lands. 

The road (shown in Figure 1) evolved from several alternatives (shown in Figure 2) as we found ways to avoid steep slopes, marine areas, wetlands, and broader river crossings. 

Purpose & Need

Sitka currently has a finite road system that provides limited passenger vehicle access for recreation and subsistence activities. Furthermore, Sitka has a shortage of developable material sources for future projects on the existing road system. 

The purpose of the proposed Katlian Bay Road project is to provide increased recreational and subsistence opportunities on Baranof Island within U.S. Forest Service (USFS) Sitka Ranger District managed lands, provide access to Native Corporation (Shee Atika) lands, and provide access to potential new material sources on State, Federal and Native Corporation lands for possible future development.

Fact Sheet

Katlian Bay Road Construction Project

This project is currently under construction.

The environmental review, consultation, and other actions required by applicable Federal environmental laws for this project are being, or have been, carried out by DOT&PF pursuant to 23 U.S.C. 327 and a Memorandum of Understanding dated April 13, 2023, and executed by FHWA and DOT&PF.