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Glenn Highway Improvements Suspended During 2019 Fair

Glenn Highway Improvements Suspended During 2019 Fair

Work to be paused August 22 – September 2 for state’s largest event

It will be smooth sailing for drivers heading to the Alaska State Fair this year, as the Alaska Department of Transportation will suspend work on Glenn Highway improvements during the run of the 2019 Fair.

To facilitate traffic flow to the largest event in the state, crews will suspend work from August 22 through September 2, resuming on September 3.

During the Fair, drivers can expect both north and southbound lanes to be open. The highway will also be paved, repairs will be complete on the Glenn-Parks interchange, and no detours will be in place.

As always, fairgoers are reminded to:

The Glenn Highway improvement project is important for the Fair and the entire Mat-Su Valley, which is the fastest-growing area of Alaska. Once the improvements are complete, the Glenn Highway corridor will be able to handle 30,000 cars a day.

Glenn Highway improvements include:

  • A four-lane, divided highway fronting the fairgrounds
  • More visibility with wider shoulders and ditches
  • New lighting
  • Dedicated turning lanes into Palmer
  • Accessible pedestrian signals
  • Frontage roads for homes and businesses
  • Bike baths on frontage roads

Additionally, the improvements will eliminate dangerous left-hand turns across the highway, and upgraded signal controllers will communicate with each other, keeping traffic flowing smoothly.

Drive safe and see you at the Fair!

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Road Construction Update

Glenn-Parks Project Not Expected to Delay Fair Traffic

How will the road construction at the Glenn-Parks Interchange affect traffic to the Alaska State Fair? It’s a question that’s been coming up more frequently as the Fair draws near.

“We know that fairgoers will appreciate the improvements to the roadway. However, we also know fairgoers are concerned about possible traffic delays on their way to the Fair,” said Jerome Hertel, Fair general manager. “We reached out to the Department of Transportation about the project so we could let fairgoers know what to expect.”

The Alaska Department of Transportation & Public Facilities (DOT&PF) reports that all lanes will be open and there will be no construction activity on the paving and bridge rehabilitation project during the Fair, which takes place August 25 – September 5.

“Fair traffic will be free to use all lanes of the interchange prior to the Fair, and there will be no construction activity to distract the drivers,” said Patrick Harvey, project engineer with the Alaska DOT&PF. He added they are currently working on details, such as completing the permanent inlaid lines, which is expected to be complete in the next couple of days.

“After that, the northbound traffic can be moved back over on the northbound highway and we will do our best to finish the permanent inlaid lines on the southbound highway a few days after that,” Harvey said.

According to the Alaska Navigator website, “The remainder of the project will not affect getting to or from the Alaska State Fair. Any remaining work on the Glenn Highway at the interchange will be done after the Fair.”

“Hundreds of thousands of people head to the fairgrounds each year, so traffic flow and safety is an issue that’s important to both us and our fairgoers,” Hertel said. “We appreciate the Department of Transportation recognizing the significance of the Fair and the steps they are planning to take to ensure smooth travel for our fairgoers.”

The project, which began in spring 2016, will improve the Parks Highway from the Glenn-Parks Interchange at mile 35 to just past the Seward Meridian Parkway at mile 40, as well as the Glenn-Parks Interchange and ramps. Upon completion, the highway, all ramps and the interchange will be repaved, new waterproofing membranes will be installed on 11 bridges, expansion joints will be replaced on four bridges, and bridge approaches will be repaired on all 13 bridges.

Drivers can find more information on the project and traffic impacts by visiting alaskanavigator.org or calling the hotline at 907.232.5473.