September 09, 2002
Monday - 12:05 am

The Ketchikan Economic Development Authority (KEDA) board met last Wednesday, September 04th, with Roger Healy from the Alaska Department of Transportation & Public

--- KEDA Board Members Chris Herby & Mike Holman... photo by Dick Kauffman ---

Facilities (ADOT&PF) and Mark Dalton from HDR Alaska, Inc. for an update on the Gravina Access project. Approximately 10-12 community members attended this public meeting.

According to Roger Healy, the draft Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) for the Gravina project is nearing completion and will be provided to the Federal Highway Administration (FHA) and the U.S. Coast Guard for their comments by the end of September. Healy said when the draft EIS is returned from these two departments their comments will be added as part of the public record for consideration. A draft EIS with a preferred alternative crossing will be presented to the public likely by the end of the year for comment.

It was reported that during the 11th to the 15th of September, HDR will be opening an office at 430 Dock Street. Plans are to staff the office 2-3 days during the middle of the week. The office will have available for public review current information on all the proposed bridge crossings, including maps and a 7 foot by 3 foot model of all the proposed crossings.

According to Healy & Dalton, draft results of the West Channel - Tongass Narrows simulation which was conducted in Florida in late May and early June are in the process of being reviewed by the U.S. Coast Guard and the Marine Pilots Association. The draft results are expected to be available for public review by the end of September.

The F1 alternative crossing - Tongass Ave. North of Coast Guard Base Termini to Gravina - has been added as one of 10 alternatives - inclusive of a no-action alternative.

ADOT&PF August 2002 Gravina Access Alternatives Chart : Lists alternatives,
descriptions & costs (1MB)

Roger Healy reported that he had received two letters from the FAA. For more detailed information on the FAA findings refer to these documents:

• 07/15/02 Letter To John Schommer, USDOT- FAA Obstruction Evaluation Specialist - from Mick Green, Principal Operations Inspector - USDOT - FAA - Juneau Flight Standards District Office
  A review of 6 bridge alternatives
• 07/22/02 Letter To Roger Healy, ADOT&PF - From Tony Wylie, Manager Operations Branch USDOT -FAA - Alaska Region
  A review of 6 bridge alternatives & findings

KEDA requested an expedited letter from ADOT&PF to the Ketchikan Borough Manager for public release that would clarify the following four points that have been discussed incorrectly by the public in comments and at meetings:

• Clarify that the bridge will not be a toll bridge
• Clarify that maintenance of the bridge will be the State's responsibility
• Clarify that the $20 million in federal funding can only be used for the Gravina bridge study, no other projects.
• Clarify that if the "no option"- keep the ferry - is selected the maintenance costs of the ferry will remain with the Borough.

Roger Healy and Mark Dalton will return for another meeting with KEDA tentatively on September 26th. The public is invited to attend.

More Gravina Access Project Information:

Download from Sitnews:

July 2002 Gravina Access Project Newsletter - Latest Newsletter Presented by the Alaska Department of Transportation and Public Facilities... (size 3.1 MB)

June 2002 Public Comments Document - Reasonable Alternatives Summary
(27 pages, size 700 K) - Provided by the Gravina Access Project

Download from the Gravina-Access Project Web Site:

March 2002 Public Comments Document - Reasonable Alternatives Summary
This document summarizes the comments received on the reasonable alternatives since DOT&PF's announcement (January 7, 2002) of the state's recommended alternative for access to Gravina Island ­ the Pennock Island (F3) alternative.

Gravina Access Project - Web Site

 

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