Museum Drive Extension

Scope

The Borough hired the engineering firm Hattenburg, Dilley and Linnell LLC (HDL) to proceed with engineering and environmental studies to extend Museum Drive 1.9-miles westward to connect with Sylvan Road. The extension would hook up to Marigold Drive, completing a connection all the way to the Parks Highway just west of Pittman Road. The road is envisioned as a two-lane road with shoulders.

Project Benefits

This area of the Matanuska-Susitna Borough has grown rapidly in recent years, resulting in a boom in land development and a corresponding increase in local traffic and traffic crashes. The Alaska Department of Transportation and Public Facilities (ADOT&PF) has designated the Parks Highway from Lucus Road to the Alaska Railroad Houston Crossing as a safety corridor in an effort to reduce crash rates. ADOT&PF is in the construction phase of a project to upgrade the Parks Highway from Lucus Road to Pittman Road, milepost 44-52, to a 4-lane divided highway with limited access. The Museum Drive extension on the south side of Parks Highway is an outgrowth of discussions and cooperation between the Matanuska-Susitna Borough, and ADOT&PF. Recognizing the need for additional collector roads to be constructed in conjunction with the Parks Highway project. Collector roads help alleviate traffic congestion, reduce accidents, better distribute local traffic, and improve access to the local community and businesses.p>

Project Status

The Matanuska-Susitna Borough received funds to design and construct two Parks Highway Connectors: Museum Drive and Machen Road. The construction of Machen Road was completed in 2014 and the remaining funds from that project were used to bring the Museum Drive Extension project to 100% design. Construction for Museum Drive Extension is now awaiting funding.

Project Cost

The Matanuska-Susitna Borough received $6 million to design and construct two Parks Highway Connectors: Museum Drive and Machen Drive. Machen Drive was completed in October of 2014. The remaining funds were used to bring Museum Drive Extension project to 100% design.