Office of Planning, Environment, & Realty (HEP)
Planning • Environment • Real Estate
Alaska Program Delivery Team
Western Federal Lands Highway Division
The 11.3 kilometer (7.3 mile) Exit Glacier Road near Seward, Alaska, is the principal route to Kenai Fjords National Park and accesses some of Alaska's most spectacular glacial environment and mountain scenery. The road improvement project crosses 2.4 kilometers (1.5 miles) of pristine wetlands, streams, and riparian areas that are valuable salmon spawning and rearing habitats. The protection of these resources is critically important to the commercial and recreational economies of Alaska. To complete this project a 4-year highway development process was initiated that included formal cooperative agreements, collaborative partnerships, and proactive public involvement activities by State and Federal Transportation and natural resource agencies in conjunction with the University of Alaska, project contractors, and the public. These efforts have resulted in extensive and unique mitigation strategies for water quality, wetlands, riparian zones, and fishery resources. This diverse multi-agency project team, working cooperatively, has produced an important road improvement project that benefits broad segments of society.
