West Susitna Access 

AIDEA  in partnership with   

 

   
   

PROJECT VIDEO

 

MUST READS:

OPINION: The necessity of the West Susitna Access Road by Andrew Traxler

Project Update*

On July 27, 2023, Alaska Department of Transportation & Public Facilities (DOT&PF) announced its intent to develop a separate project for a public road and associated facilities in the Matanuska-Susitna Valley to meet the region’s growing demand for improved access to public land, personal properties, waterways, and recreational areas west of the Little Susitna and Susitna Rivers. 

With DOT&PF taking steps to expedite development of a public road, AIDEA will turn its attention to a separate project in the planning and development of an access corridor to reach mining, energy, agricultural, and other economic interests in the area. 

* See 07-28-23 AIDEA Press Release  ||  West Susitna Access Project Update

 

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) Regarding the DOT&PF Project:

Why is DOT&PF planning to build a public road across the Susitna River?

The Mat-Su Valley is the fastest growing region in Alaska, and the need for public transportation facilities is also growing. Residents require access to public lands, private properties, waterways, and recreational areas west of the Little Susitna, Fish Creek, and the Susitna River.

Is federal infrastructure funding contributing to the DOT&PF-managed road?

Yes.  The State Transportation Improvement Plan (STIP), managed by DOT&PF, receives annual formula funds to invest into planning, permitting, constructing, and maintaining Alaska roads, bridges, and other public facilities. With the passing of the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law (BIL), DOT&PF is receiving substantial supplemental funding to invest into building and maintaining Alaska’s transportation infrastructure. The STIP for 2024-2027 contains funding for planning, permitting, and constructing the road and associated facilities. DOT&PF will design the road to federal safety standards, and will oversee the management of constructing and maintaining this public road.

When would construction of DOT&PF’s facilities commence?

The State Transportation Improvement Plan (STIP) that was released in July 2023 includes funds dedicated to planning and developing the public road to meet federal safety standards. DOT&PFs Planning, permitting, and advanced design of the road and facilities will commence immediately. DOT&PF hopes to begin construction on the new public road and facilities in 2026.

 

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) Regarding the AIDEA Project:

Is AIDEA also pursuing a road?

AIDEA will continue working on a separate project for an industrial access corridor to advance access to several mines. AIDEA’s effort will consider a variety of options including slurry lines, conveyor systems, and roads to advance economic development and jobs for Alaska.

 

Project Benefits for the AIDEA-led Effort

As shown in the 2023 Economic Analysis Results for the West Susitna Access Project, the potential economic benefits of the access corridor project  includes the delivery of many new opportunities for Alaskans! For a summary of this report, we encourage you to refer to the 2023 WSAP Economic Analysis Highlights.

The following are examples of how state’s economy will enjoy growth and jobs from the extraction of minerals, oil and gas development, agricultural production, harvest of timber resources, harnessing of alternative energy, and recreation access.

  • Mining: Gold, silver, copper, strategic metals
  • Agricultural: 65,000 acres to improve Alaska's food security
  • Energy: Oil, gas, and carbon ore potential
  • Forest/Timber: Harvest of timber for sale or to remove beetle-killed forest to reduce wildfire risk.
  • Jobs: Thousands of career-track jobs in mining, energy, construction, and transportation sectors.
  • Recreational Access: 6 million acres
  • Telecommunications: Options for bringing broadband to the region
  • Emergency Services: Access for fire suppression and search & rescue teams
  • Land Sales: Road access to tracts of land offered in state land sales

 

Public-Private Partnership

  • In 2019 AIDEA and the Matanuska-Susitna Borough (MSB) signed a Memorandum of Understanding that provided a partnership framework for a phased feasibility analysis of the West Susitna Access. AIDEA and MSB, along with Alaska Operations LLC, were the initial public and private partners in Phase 2 of the West Susitna Access Project. Other private entities may participate in future development efforts.

  • On July 26, 2023, Alaska Department of Transportation & Public Facilities (DOT&PF) announced its intent to develop a public road and associated facilities in the Matanuska-Susitna Valley to meet the region’s growing demand for improved access to public land, personal properties, waterways, and recreational areas west of the Little Susitna and Susitna Rivers. DOT&PF has requested from the Alaska Industrial Development and Export Authority (AIDEA), access to design and planning documents that were developed for the West Susitna Access Corridor for use in its forthcoming planning and permitting efforts to develop this public road.  AIDEA is providing this information to DOT&PF with the understanding that the state transportation agency intends to use it to expedite development of the public road, which will include access to a new boat launch at the lower Susitna River and a public campground at the road’s terminus on the river’s west side. Since ADOT&PF is taking steps to expedite development of the public road, AIDEA will turn its attention to planning and development of an industrial utility and access corridor beyond the terminus of the road to reach mining, energy, agricultural, and other economic interests in the area.

  • The project will touch on land use planning. Alaska’s Legislature directed land use plans are required for the utilization of state-owned land. Alaska Statute 38.04.065: (a) Except as provided in (d) and (h) of this section, the commissioner shall, with local governmental and public involvement under AS 38.05.945, adopt, maintain, and, when appropriate, revise regional land use plans that provide for the use and management of state-owned land.

  • The process under which this project will go forward assures meaningful participation in the planning for access and road development. Local governments, state and federal agencies, area land owners and the public will be involved at each step along the way as any regional land use Plan is adopted.

  • A non-profit group based in the Mat-Su Borough, “the Friends of West Susitna”, formed in 2022 to support the West Susitna Access Project. AIDEA is in communication with the Board of this non-profit and intends on providing updates to them as the project develops.

 
 
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COMPLETED COMMUNITY OUTREACH & PROJECT ACTIVITY

DATE COMMUNITY OUTREACH OR PROJECT ACTIVITY
01/21/2021     West Susitna Access Project Update Presentation  ||  Mat-Su Borough Fish & Wildlife Commission
02/20/2021     West Susitna Access Road Project Presentation  ||  Alaska Outdoor Council
03/01/2021   Update on Projects, Investments and Cash Flow  ||  Senate Finance Committee
03/09/2021   AIDEA FY22 Budget, Reserve & Credit Summary   ||  House Finance Committee
03/16/2021   AIDEA Overview & West Susitna Access Project Presentation  ||  Greater Wasilla Chamber of Commerce
03/16/2021   West Susitna Phase II Conclusion Presentation  ||  Mat-Su Borough Assembly
03/18/2021   West Susitna Access Project Update Presentation  ||  Mat-Su Borough Fish & Wildlife Commission
05/12/2021   West Susitna Access Road Project Presentation  ||  American Society of Civil Engineers, Mat-Su Chapter
06/08/2021   West Susitna Access Project Update Presentation  ||  Big Lake Community Council
07/28/2021   Advancing Prosperity for Alaskans - AIDEA/AEA Presentation  ||  Greater Palmer Chamber of Commerce
08/12/2021   West Susitna Access Project Update Presentation  ||  Port Mackenzie Community Council
October 2021 AIDEA to receive $8.5 million of appropriated funds from the 32nd State Legislature, under HB 69, to advance pre-development work on the West Susitna Access Road in October 2021. Next steps will be to competitively procure a third-party contractor to assist AIDEA with advancing pre-development work, file an application with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE), and begin an environmental impact analysis through the National Environmental Protection Act (NEPA). AIDEA anticipates to have a third party under contract in late December 2021 to assist in this process.
11/11/2021   Public-Private Partnerships and Project Updates Presentation  ||  AGC of Alaska, Annual Conference
12/07/2021   West Susitna Access Road Project Presentation  ||  Mat-Su Borough Assembly
12/21/2021   West Susitna Access Road Project Presentation ||  Mat-Su Borough Assembly
 01/14/2022   AIDEA Overview & Mining Projects Presentation  ||  Alaska Miner's Association
02/23/2022   Online Public Meeting with Pre-Recorded Presentation  ||  Mat-Su Borough Assembly & Susitna River Coalition
March 2022 Final stages of predevelopment and permitting have started and a submission of a CWA 404 permit application to the USACE is expected in April 2022. There will continue to be ongoing opportunities for public engagement while field work continues this summer to conduct additional baseline environmental studies on cultural and historical resources, fish, wildlife, hydrology, and wetlands.
03/10/2022   Access to Opportunities: Section 1002 Leases, Ambler Access Project & West Susitna Access Project  ||  The Alaska Support Industry Alliance
03/23/2022   Online Public Meeting with Pre-Recorded Presentation  ||  Mat-Su Borough Assembly & Susitna River Coalition
04/08/2022 West Susitna Access Road Project Presentation  ||  Alaska Outdoor Council Conference
May 2022 AIDEA submits the CWA 404 permit application to the USACE for the West Susitna Access project, initiating the environmental review process through compliance with the National Environmental Policy Act. Field studies will begin this summer with further evaluation of cultural and historical sites, fish and wildlife habitat, engineering refinement, and alternative route analysis.
June 2022 AIDEA Applies for West Susitna Access Environmental ReviewThe Alaska Industrial Development and Export Authority (AIDEA) submitted a permit application to the US Army Corps of Engineers, starting the process of environmental review for the West Susitna Access Road (WSAR)
06/22/2022 West Susitna Access Road Project Presentation  ||  Palmer Chamber of Commerce
06/27/2022 West Susitna Access Road Project Presentation  ||  Mat-Su Borough Parks & Rec Meeting
October
2022
US Army Corps of Engineers Accepts AIDEA’s Department of Army (404/10) Permit Application for West Susitna Access Road.  After review of AIDEA’s permit application containing information on Waters of the U.S., including wetlands and navigable waterways that would be traversed by the West Susitna Access Project, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers deemed the application ‘complete’. This will now allow the Corps to initiate the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) process, which will allow many opportunities for public input into this important project for the Matanuska-Susitna Valley and all of Alaska.
11/16/2022 AIDEA Project Update Presentation  ||  Alaska Snowmobile Club
January 2022 Randy Ruaro appointed as Executive Director of AIDEAThe AIDEA Board of Directors announced the appointment of Randy Ruaro as the new Executive Director.  Chairman Dana Pruhs stated, “Randy has extensive experience leading departments for the State of Alaska and we look forward to working with him and AIDEA’s talented executive team as we advance economic growth and diversification for Alaskans.” Ruaro previously served as Chief of Staff to Governor Dunleavy where he provided administrative oversight to state agencies, agency leaders, and implemented policies supporting resource development, infrastructure, and job growth. He also served as a Special Assistant for statehood defense and served as Chief of Staff in Senate and House Finance Committees.
01/13/2023 AIDEA Overview Presentation  ||  Alaska Miners Association
01/17/2023 AIDEA Overview Presentation  ||  Power the Future Radio
01/23/2023 AIDEA Overview Presentation  ||  Alaska Legislature
02/01/2023 AIDEA Overview Presentation  ||  Soldotna & Kenai Chambers of Commerce
02/09/2023 AIDEA Overview Presentation  ||  Alaska Support Industry Alliance 
02/09/2023 West Susitna Access Project Update Presentation  ||  Greater Wasilla Chamber of Commerce - Government Affairs Committee
02/28/2023 AIDEA Overview Presentation  ||  Alaska State Legislature - House Transportation Committee
03/31/2023 Community Meeting Project Update  ||  Evangelo's Restaurant - Wasilla  ||  Video
05/01/2023 AIDEA Overview Presentation  ||  Alaska State Legislature - House Resource Committee
07/27/2023 Alaska DOT&PF Press Release  ||  West Susitna Changes Agencies, Changes Focus to Public Rec Road
07/28/2023 AIDEA Press Release  ||  West Susitna Access Project Update
03/05/2024 AIDEA Comments to DNR on Susitna Basin Rec Rivers Plan
03/06/2024 AIDEA Board Meeting  ||  West Susitna Access Project Update
03/06/2024 West Susitna Access Project Announces 2024 Field Season and Jobs for Alaskans
04/24/2024 West Susitna Access Road Update at the Mat-Su Regional Spring Economic Summit
06/02/2024 West Susitna Access Project Update at the Skwentna Roadhouse

West Susitna Access Road Economic Impacts Report

Historical West Susitna, Skwentna Region

 West Susitna Access Field Reconnaissance Report

West Susitna Access Phase II - MOU 

West Susitna Access Phase I - MOU 

West Susitna LiDAR Survey

AIDEA West Susitna Access Outreach Summary by HDR  

West Susitna Access Road Communications Plan 

West Susitna Access Phase II Preliminary Engineering Report 

 

West Susitna Preliminary Road Engineering Mapbook

West Susitna Preliminary Wetland Mapping Report

2022 West Susitna Access Project FAQ

Q1 2023 Economic Analysis Results for the West Susitna Access Project

Q1 2023 West Susitna Access Project Economic Analysis Highlights

Q1 2023 WSAP Project Fact Sheet

Q1 2023 WSAP Map of Conceptual Route with Resources and Opportunities

Q1 2023 WSAP Map of Conceptual Route with Satellite Imagery

Q1 2023 WSAP Map of Conceptual Route and Area