W  Al k  A  Western Alaska Access Planning Study 

(WAAPS)(WAAPS)

Alexa GreeneWestern Area Planner

h lNorthern Region Planning

www.westernakaccess.comAlaska Department of Transportation & Public Facilities

Agenda

How was the planHow was the plan prepared

Pros and cons ofPros and cons of preliminary routes

Update on what DOT&PFUpdate on what DOT&PF is doing

Materials Pit, 2007MP 47 Dalton Highway

Dalton Hwy project MP 37-49

WAAPS Project PurposeConnect State’s existing highway system with Seward Peninsula highway systemg y y

Facilitate regional community and resource development

Planning Steps

Review historical studies and routes → over 200 documents and 80 

transportation studies

Identify corridor evaluation criteria → community and resource 

access, environmental and land use constraints, costs

Define/evaluate preliminary alternatives/ p y

Recommend corridor  → Yukon River Corridor

D fi i i t iti i l j b Define economic impacts  → communities, mineral resources, jobs

Define next steps

Evaluation Criteria

Communities → population, distance to corridor and regional 

hubs

Mineral Resources → value, distance to corridor

Environment →wildlife, wetlands, streams, Iditarod Trail

f Land Ownership & Management → Native & federal lands, 

protected lands

Engineering & Costs → construction, maintenance

Preliminary Corridor Alternatives

Road Design Criteria Low‐Volume  Industrial Road Standards 

50 h d i d i h d d d• 50 mph design speed with some reduced speed areas• Anticipated Average Annual Daily Traffic (AADT) less than 400• Road construction will vary, depending on existing soils

Typical Roadway Section• 30’ total roadway surface width (12 ft. lanes, 3 ft. shoulders)

• 24” ft. sub‐excavation• 64” embankment material• Geogrid fabric• Unpaved with 8” crushed aggregate surface

Initial Cost Estimates

Northern Yukon Yukon SouthernNorthern Route 1

Yukon Route 2a

YukonRoute 2b

Southern Route 3

Estimated Construction Costs

Proposed new length of road (mi) 440 510 450 620

Total Construction Cost ($B) $2.1 $2.7 $2.5 $3.0

Estimated Annual Maintenance & Resurfacing/Rehabilitation Costs

Road & Facilities Maintenance ($M) $13.4 $14.7 $13.4 $18.3

Resurfacing & Rehabilitation ($M) $22 $25.5 $22.5 $31

Total Annual Maint/Rehab Cost ($M) $35.4 $40.2 $35.9 $49.3

Preliminary Corridor Alternatives

Advantages & ChallengesPreliminary AlternativesPreliminary Alternatives

Northern Route 1

Ad t Ch ll

Yukon Route 2b

Ad t Ch llAdvantages Challenges

Access to rich Ambler mining district

Crosses Koyukuk & SelawikNational Wildlife Refuges

Least cost to construct and Crosses Nulato Hills ACEC

Advantages Challenges

Benefits greater population Topography (steep grades)

Makes use of ~70 miles of  Less documented mineral Least cost to construct and maintain

Crosses Nulato Hills ACEC

Fewest topographicalchallenges

Phased construction not as advantageous

Elliott Highway value near route

Fewer negative impacts to land and environment

Higher estimated cost to construct and maintain

P t ti l t h N Y k Ri ig

Good terrain for future rail and/or gas line

Longer distance between Fairbanks and Nome 

(724 miles)

Potential to enhance intermodal transportation 

system (Yukon River barges)

New Yukon River crossing required

Greater opportunity forphased construction

Shorter distance between Fairbanks and NomeFairbanks and Nome     

(708 miles)

Yukon River Corridor

Yukon River Corridor – Route 2b

Total Project Cost → $2.3 to $2.7 billion• Construction of road bridges maintenance stations• Construction of road, bridges, maintenance stations• Engineering, environmental mitigation, right‐of‐way acquisition• 20% contingency

Economic Benefits → Passenger travel, fuel delivery,  freight & mail, mining support, energy & power infrastructure

Refining the Cost Estimate → additional engineering & geotechnical information in Refining the Cost Estimate → additional engineering & geotechnical information in later phases • Terrain, wetlands • Economies of Scale

• Soil conditions • Project phasingB id C t ti li t

Annual Routine Maintenance → $14.9 million• Compared to the Annual Dalton Operations Maintenance Budget of $13.6 million for FY 10 and $15.5 

million for FY11 (This amount includes the Deadhorse and Barrow Airports and all M&O Stations from  

• Bridges • Construction climate

( pfrom Livengood to Deadhorse) and average annual Capital Budget of $5 million

Annual Road Resurfacing & Rehabilitation → $25 million

Economic Impacts of theYukon River CorridorYukon River Corridor

Six case study communitiesT K k k• Tanana • Koyukuk

• Ruby • Koyuk• Galena • Nome

Case study minesKoyuk, 2008

• Ambler • Illinois Creek• Donlin Creek • Sample placer mine

Koyuk, 2008 Community and Regional Affairs, Community Photo Library

Other InfrastructureE /P R il• Energy/Power • Rail

Economic Benefits

Communities

$19 1 illi l i i f l f i ht• $19.1 million annual savings in fuel, freight, 

mail transport

• Approximately $3,900 annual savings per pp y $ , g p

person

• More affordable and flexible options for 

year‐round passenger travel

MinesRuby 2009

• $120 million annual savings in transport of 

fuel, freight, mine concentrates

Ruby, 2009 Community and Regional Affairs, Community Photo Library

Greater Fuel Savings forEastern CommunitiesEastern Communities

Economic Impacts of the RoadOther InfrastructureOther Infrastructure

Energy/Power

• Trucked propane instead of barged diesel could save communities 

$13.5 million per year (about $2,700 per person)

• 30% to 50% reduction in costs to build pipeline or electrical 

transmission infrastructure along road corridortransmission infrastructure along road corridor

Rail

• Support of long‐term rail development

Other Socioeconomic Effects Jobs  → creation of approximately 1,590 new jobs at case study mines, average monthly wage of $7,000

Improved access to public services  → education, health care, emergency/safety services

Reduced costs of community capital improvements

Increased access to subsistence 

areas

Dalton Hwy MP 144-175 project

Next Steps Public Involvement  → Communities, Native Organizations and Tribal 

Governments, Mine Owners

Advance Route Mapping → GIS, LIDAR, Aerial Photography

Field Studies → Engineering & Environmental field investigations

Engineering Analysis → Further definition of corridor using field studies and mapping, refined costs

Implementation Planning → Construction phasing, right‐of‐way acquisition, funding

Current Next Steps

What $1 million in Capital funds can accomplish:

• Overall Objectives for Next Study Phase:– Obtain broad public input on the alternatives considered in the WAAPS Corridor Planning Report

– Conduct additional limited analysis of selective new options proposed or refinements of existing options proposed during the public review

– Identify a proposed staging plan and alternative construction techniques

Current Next Steps

• Public Involvement Task:– Public Meetings in various communities along the three Corridors– Stakeholder Meetings, Meetings with Native Organizations, Tribal Governments, and Mine Interests

• Staging Task:– Identify options for staging project into useable logical construction segments.

– Identify alternative construction techniques, standards, and interim modal alternatives to lower initial costs

Potential Project SegmentsApproximate Road Miles

Major River Crossing

Approximate Minor River Crossings

Approximate Stream Crossings M&O Facility

M&O Facility Name

Manley to Tanana 50 Yukon 1 11 2 Manley, TananaTanana to Ruby 130 Yukon 2 25 2 Ruby, No town

Ruby to Galena 60 3 30 2 Galena, No town

Galena To Koyuk 170 Koyukuk 5 55 3Nulato, No town, 

KoyukGalena To Koyuk 170 Koyukuk 5 55 3 Koyuk

Koyuk to Council 90 2 11 1 CouncilTotal 500 3 13 132 10

Approximate R d C t

Major River C i

Minor River C i St C i M&O F ilit S t TOTALSRoad Cost Crossing Crossing Stream Crossing M&O Facility Segment TOTALS

Manley to Tanana $230,000,000 $112,000,000 $3,200,000 $18,700,000 $31,000,000 $394,900,000Tanana to Ruby $598,000,000 $112,000,000 $6,400,000 $42,500,000 $15,500,000 $774,400,000

Tanana to Galena $276,000,000 $9,600,000 $51,000,000 $31,000,000 $321,600,000, , , , , , , , , ,

Galena To Koyuk $782,000,000 $28,000,000 $16,000,000 $93,500,000 $46,500,000 $920,000,000

Koyuk to Council $414,000,000 $6,400,000 $18,700,000 $15,500,000 $408,600,000$2,230,000,000 $252,000,000 $41,600,000 $224,400,000 $139,500,000 $2,819,500,000

Notes: Per mile Per Minor Per Stream Per Facility$4,600,000 $3,200,000 $1,700,000 $15,500,000

Current Next Steps

• Additional Tasks Pending Corridor Consensus d bl lduring Public Involvement:

– Satellite Imagery or LIDAR– GIS Work– Flyover field inspection or video of difficult terrain areas river/streamFlyover, field inspection or video of difficult terrain areas, river/stream crossings or entire route 

– Office material site studyDevelop scope for future phases– Develop scope for future phases

• Field Studies• Engineering analysis• Advance route mappingAdvance route mapping• Implementation planning

Mapping Analysis of Recommended Alternative

Northern Region DOT&PF Contacts

Steve Titus, P.E., Regional Director, 451‐2210, steve.titus@alaska.gov

Ethan Birkholz, Chief Planning & Support Services , 451‐2381, 

ethan.birkholz@alaska.gov

Al G W t A Pl Alexa Greene, Western Area Planner 

451‐2388, alexa.greene@alaska.gov

Meadow Bailey Information Officer Meadow Bailey, Information Officer

451‐2240, meadow.bailey@alaska.gov 

www.westernakaccess.com