02/09/1966 RMI Call to Order
KODIAK ISLAND BOROUGH
CONFERENCE ON ROADS
February 9, 1966
The meeting was called to order by Borough Chairman Wilton T. White at 8:15 P.M. in
the Magistrate's Court Room, Donnelley,Building, Kodiak, Alaska.
Chairman introduced and called by name those in attendance as follows:
Mr. Fred Brechan, Councilman
Mrs. Jo Hajdu, Assemblywoman
Capt. Ira M. Rowell, USN, Kodiak Naval Station
Mr. Cosby Steen, State Dept. of Highways
Mr. Claude Rogers, State Dept. of Highways
Mr. Paul Stover, State Dept. of Highways
Mr. Ralph Jones, City Manager, City of Kodiak
Mr. Leon Johnson, Kodiak Electric Association
There were also twenty people in the audience, including the press, people from
Cape Chiniak, Anton Larson Bay, ranchers, and U.S. Navy representatives.
The Chairman than reviewed the purpose of the meeting and called on Mr. Cosby Steen
for a resume and status of present PRIMARY Kodiak Island road system. Mr. Steen
spoke substantially as follows:
At present the design work on this project from Rezanoff Street out to the Naval
Station is essentially complete, with the exception of some minor revisions in
utilities. Most of the right -of -way in this project is involved in the Urban Renewal
area and should be completed by May 1, 1966. Approximately ten parcels outside the
Urban Renewal area will be in clear right -of -way status before May 1. On June 1, the
project through Urban Renewal should be advertised for bids. This project will
consist of curb and gutters, sidewalks, storm sewer system inside the urban area,
and base rehabilitation and resurfacing on out to the gate on the Naval Station.
Design is essentially complete on the Kodiak /Pillar Creek project. As most of the
right - of-way is through public domain, land acquisition should present no problem.
This project will consist of grading and drainage.
Both of these projects will be in full swing this summer, with the town primary segment
through Urban Renewal and beyond probably carrying over into the next summer.
A letter from Bruce Campbell, Acting Commissioner of Highways, to Senator Owen, was
quoted to the effect that "the extension of the Pillar Creek project on past Monashka
Creek will be included in the current five -year program." Mr. Steen said that it
probably would be accomplished within "a couple of years."
These enumerated projects, according to Mr. Steen, represent immediate plans for
construction in the very near future, and concluded his opening summary remarks.
A discussion followed pertaining to limits of the primary road system which begins
and ends at the Buskin River bridge, through town and Rezanoff Drive, to the
boundary of the Spruce Cape Loran Station.
Comments were then solicited from people concerned. Capt. Ira M. Rowell commented
briefly to the extent that the Navy has opened that portion of highway through the
Base from the main gate as a public road and that the State has undertaken the
maintenance and improvements of the main road through the Naval Reserve. Also
discussed between Capt. Rowell and Mr. Steen was the Navy's assistance to the
Highway Department on repair and surfacing of present highway through the Base while
the hot mix plant is in operation.
Mr. Steen said there were no immediate plans for resurfacing of re- constructed road
through Bells Flats.
Kodiak Island Borough Conference on Roads 2
The sinus of the continuation of Rezanoff Drive to Sptute Cape yes dtsCUssed. There
are no immediate plans for work on the short section conttetting the end of Rezanoff
to Spruce Cape Road. Construction on this section will be reCommehded for the
season 1969 -70.
A discussion was held relative to patrol and speed limits on roads within the Navy
Base.
Mr. Jones expressed concern over plans for detours during construction this sumaer
on Shelikoff Drive, Mr. Steen assured him that the contraCtot would be responsible
but that there would inevitably be some inconvenience to the traveling public.
Mr. Fields, speaking from the audience, asked how many miles of ptimaty road there
is on Kodiak and was told 8.9 miles. This compared to approximately 2000 miles
within the State.
This concluded discussion on Kodiak primary roads.
A discussion was held on the construction schedule for Hill aytOt1nelo. Point'Reid.
Mr, Steen stated that the segment from the end of present Ni , Bay Road to Pillar
Creek would be under contract by June 1 of this yeat.
A discussion was held on the status of power line provisions along highways. This
is provided for by Federal statute.
A discussion was held on criteria for determining the extent of thuo ale irtment et
Highways' maintenance and construction. Mr. Steen stated that thr tr ffie count on
the Cape Chiniak Road would not exceed 200 cars per day, as compared to *tail**
types of highways in the State with over 2000 vehicles per day. However, in Mt►
Steen's estimation, the Cape Chiniak Road would have work done on it in upgraded
maintenance this year, but mainly from the safety standpoint. Mr. Steen also stated
that to do the work on the Cape Chiniak Road to bring it up to standards requested
would involve upwards of eight million dollars.
At this point, several people spoke from the audience in support of a continuing
constructive road program for the Kodiak area. This support was not necessarily
based on pressing present needs, but toward the need to open up areas contiguous
to the City of Kodiak in which to expand.
To summarize, the crux of further road improvement and construction lay in the
availability of funds- -those available funds being as appropriated by the State
Legislature. Currently, the Cape Chiniak Road will have work done on it this suer
toward upgrading of maintenance; the primary system through Kodiak will be under
contract on or before June 1; the segment of Otmeloi Point Road from Mill Bay to
Pillar Creek will have grading and drainage under contract by June 1.
Further general discussion on advisability of a highway mead study for the Kodiak
area and other pertinent aspects of the shortage of funds for roads in general
was held.
The meeting was adjourned by the Chairman at 10:45 P.M.
W.A.S.