As a long time resident of the Chitina-Kenny Lake area, I am saddened that this would even be a consideration. It is so necessary for the residents that do live there, including the school children that ride the bus on that road every day! My kids attended Kenny Lake school and I used to sing the praises of the DOT who had to plow those roads.
D
Dolores Bass
10 years ago
This DOT Station has provided Alaskans and many visitors with a significant way to access an important area in the state. Work done in previous years has provided a safe and important way to visit this area.
Do not allow the significant work done in previous years on this important stretch of road to go
without service. Keeping up all the state roads provide significant economic opportunities.
It would be shortsighted to ignore the importance of keeping all means of transportation open and accessible
A
Arthur Meincke
10 years ago
Re-instate the funding NOW!
P
Peggy Morsch
10 years ago
As a property owner in the McCarthy area, I'm concerned with my ability to travel in and out of McCarthy for needed supplies.
G
George Cebula
10 years ago
I lived in McCarthy for the past 20 years. The continued maintenance of the McCarthy Road is vital for the summer traffic that daily travels the road. Safety is a major concern and you can't put a price on a human life.
G
Georgia Jackson
10 years ago
This is a busy tourist site and some businesses rely on tourism.
G
Gail Bass
10 years ago
I have visited McCarthy several times and recognize the importance of this road for the preservation of this historical site.
K
Kari Miles
10 years ago
The road allows access to a beautiful community and access to the Wrangle Elias mountains.
Ive lived in Alaska 45 years. The condition of the road when I was younger limited how often we could visit. The road conditions in recent years has made the journey more enjoyable and has increased my ability to visit the community.
B
beth davis
10 years ago
I travel to Alaska often and specifically to Mt. Elias National park. This is the jewel of Alaska and not being able to visit this area would deter me from returning to Alaska and explore other remote areas of the US
L
L Carter
10 years ago
I am a visiting tourist and I love McCarthy! My dollars would no longer come to the State if I can't get to McCarthy in a reasonable way and in a reasonable state of arrival. Please reinstate this critical camp!
C
Carl Donohue
10 years ago
The McCarthy Road is a vital link for too many people to an incredible part of the world. The State of Alaska and one of the grandest National Parks in the nation deserve a better entrance that the beat up, pot-holey nonsense of last year. We can do better, eh?
L
Lyn plomaritis
10 years ago
So many people need mccarthy rd maintained and predictably open to provide access to the McCarthy and Kennecott communities. Not only does this road provide access to locals living in these communities but to tourists coming to the Wrangell St Elias National Park. Please keep the Chitina DOT station open.
E
Eric Yould
10 years ago
David Miller, Northern Region Director, ADOT
2301 Peger Road
Fairbanks, AK 99709
Subject: Proposed Closure of Chitina Maintenance Station
It is our understanding that DOT is considering closure of the Chitina maintenance station. We fully understand that DOT is looking at ways to save money in the face of the chronic State budget deficit. This is very appropriate. However, in looking at the benefit/costs of various options, please carefully consider the significant negative impacts of DOT’s proposed Chitina station shut down particularly regarding the maintenance of the Edgerton cutoff and McCarthy road.
First, as a McCarthy resident, our family and friends have been traveling the McCarthy road several times a year going back to 1975 in our case. The early years could find the road virtually impassable for days at a time, but the road slowly improved as DOT efforts to upgrade the road progressed. It is now in the best shape that it has ever been in and the 60-mile road can now often be traversed in less than two hours. DOT is singularly responsible for this and all of us in McCarthy and along the road are greatly appreciative for DOT’s efforts. However, we are also aware of how fast the road can fall apart when not maintained. There was a short period this past summer when DOT could not maintain the road and it quickly deteriorated – resulting in travel times exceeding four hours for this 60 mile stretch. We are quite concerned that closure of the Chitina station will result in even less maintenance of the road and even longer driving times – not to even mention a return to the multiple tire flats and breakdowns of years past.
Second, while this road diminution would be very hard for those of us that live out here, now consider the impact and chilling effect that this will have on the tourist businesses in the Wrangell – St. Elias National Park (WRST). The Edgerton/McCarthy road system is the only viable road system way for tourists to gain
K
Kaitlynn Dishaw
10 years ago
Our roads need to be kept up!!
J
Jim Drewry
10 years ago
Man Do you have enough to say ? Moving right along. !!
W
William Theyskens
10 years ago
Maintenance is much more cost effective than reconstruction!
S
Sarah Roberts
10 years ago
Please keep the station open!! Now that a large portion of the McCarthy Rd has been resurfaced, it will require extra service and attention. The safety of the hundreds of souls living out that road, and of the children on the bus and people who commute from Chitina to town every day is at risk! Thank you for your consideration.
R
Rebecca Hodges
10 years ago
This road is the lifeline to Wrangell-St Elias National Park and needs to be kept in better shape.
D
David Knapp
10 years ago
Please keep this up and running. Chitna, Kennicott, and McCarthy are wonderful places. Keep this station preserves a historic location, and allows future tourism. Preserve the memories.
As a long time resident of the Chitina-Kenny Lake area, I am saddened that this would even be a consideration. It is so necessary for the residents that do live there, including the school children that ride the bus on that road every day! My kids attended Kenny Lake school and I used to sing the praises of the DOT who had to plow those roads.
This DOT Station has provided Alaskans and many visitors with a significant way to access an important area in the state. Work done in previous years has provided a safe and important way to visit this area. Do not allow the significant work done in previous years on this important stretch of road to go without service. Keeping up all the state roads provide significant economic opportunities. It would be shortsighted to ignore the importance of keeping all means of transportation open and accessible
Re-instate the funding NOW!
As a property owner in the McCarthy area, I'm concerned with my ability to travel in and out of McCarthy for needed supplies.
I lived in McCarthy for the past 20 years. The continued maintenance of the McCarthy Road is vital for the summer traffic that daily travels the road. Safety is a major concern and you can't put a price on a human life.
This is a busy tourist site and some businesses rely on tourism.
I have visited McCarthy several times and recognize the importance of this road for the preservation of this historical site.
The road allows access to a beautiful community and access to the Wrangle Elias mountains. Ive lived in Alaska 45 years. The condition of the road when I was younger limited how often we could visit. The road conditions in recent years has made the journey more enjoyable and has increased my ability to visit the community.
I travel to Alaska often and specifically to Mt. Elias National park. This is the jewel of Alaska and not being able to visit this area would deter me from returning to Alaska and explore other remote areas of the US
I am a visiting tourist and I love McCarthy! My dollars would no longer come to the State if I can't get to McCarthy in a reasonable way and in a reasonable state of arrival. Please reinstate this critical camp!
The McCarthy Road is a vital link for too many people to an incredible part of the world. The State of Alaska and one of the grandest National Parks in the nation deserve a better entrance that the beat up, pot-holey nonsense of last year. We can do better, eh?
So many people need mccarthy rd maintained and predictably open to provide access to the McCarthy and Kennecott communities. Not only does this road provide access to locals living in these communities but to tourists coming to the Wrangell St Elias National Park. Please keep the Chitina DOT station open.
David Miller, Northern Region Director, ADOT 2301 Peger Road Fairbanks, AK 99709 Subject: Proposed Closure of Chitina Maintenance Station It is our understanding that DOT is considering closure of the Chitina maintenance station. We fully understand that DOT is looking at ways to save money in the face of the chronic State budget deficit. This is very appropriate. However, in looking at the benefit/costs of various options, please carefully consider the significant negative impacts of DOT’s proposed Chitina station shut down particularly regarding the maintenance of the Edgerton cutoff and McCarthy road. First, as a McCarthy resident, our family and friends have been traveling the McCarthy road several times a year going back to 1975 in our case. The early years could find the road virtually impassable for days at a time, but the road slowly improved as DOT efforts to upgrade the road progressed. It is now in the best shape that it has ever been in and the 60-mile road can now often be traversed in less than two hours. DOT is singularly responsible for this and all of us in McCarthy and along the road are greatly appreciative for DOT’s efforts. However, we are also aware of how fast the road can fall apart when not maintained. There was a short period this past summer when DOT could not maintain the road and it quickly deteriorated – resulting in travel times exceeding four hours for this 60 mile stretch. We are quite concerned that closure of the Chitina station will result in even less maintenance of the road and even longer driving times – not to even mention a return to the multiple tire flats and breakdowns of years past. Second, while this road diminution would be very hard for those of us that live out here, now consider the impact and chilling effect that this will have on the tourist businesses in the Wrangell – St. Elias National Park (WRST). The Edgerton/McCarthy road system is the only viable road system way for tourists to gain
Our roads need to be kept up!!
Man Do you have enough to say ? Moving right along. !!
Maintenance is much more cost effective than reconstruction!
Please keep the station open!! Now that a large portion of the McCarthy Rd has been resurfaced, it will require extra service and attention. The safety of the hundreds of souls living out that road, and of the children on the bus and people who commute from Chitina to town every day is at risk! Thank you for your consideration.
This road is the lifeline to Wrangell-St Elias National Park and needs to be kept in better shape.
Please keep this up and running. Chitna, Kennicott, and McCarthy are wonderful places. Keep this station preserves a historic location, and allows future tourism. Preserve the memories.
Save the Chitina spot