Bridges

There are two proposed bridges that are in the public eye currently. The first is the Knik Arm Crossing between Anchorage and Point Mackenzie. It would span Knik Arm, a northern extension of Cook Inlet and home to the second highest tides in the Pacific Ocean (the highest are in Turnagain Arm, an eastern extension of Cook Inlet and also in Anchorage). Knik Arm also freezes periodically in the winter, so high tides with large chunks of ice can exert forces on a bridge that can result in high costs to overcome them. The proposed route would serve as a commuter route into Anchorage from Knik-Fairview, Point Mackenzie, and Big Lake. It would also shave off about an hour and a half of travel time between Anchorage and Fairbanks, Alaska's two largest communities.

The second proposed bridge would be in Ketchikan, Alaska, our fourth or fifth largest city (depending on whether it is larger than Sitka this week). Ketchikan is on Revillagigedo Island. Residents of this island, which also includes the town of Saxman, currently must take a ferry to the local airport on Gravina Island; the only other way of the island is via boat. Part of the high costs for this bridge have to do with making the bridge high enough for large ships to travel underneath. This proposed bridge would also connect Pennock Island with Revillagigedo and Gravina Islands; thus, the proposal is really for two bridges.

The money for both of these bridges comes from federal gasoline taxes and is earmarked for transportation purposes. The money also comes out of Alaska's allotment for highway funding. Alaska, despite having more than twice as much land area as the second largest state, has the least amount of roads of any of the 50 states. Many of our communities lack road service and, as a result, basic amenities, such as goods and serivces, must be flown in, thereby increasing costs. Consequently, Alaska would like to increase its infrastructure so that it can bring modern services to its residents that currently don't have running water, something that I'm sure the truly patriotic citizens of the United States wouldn't begrudge them.