By Rachel Drinkard
Turnagain Times Correspondent
Despite record lows in fatal and major injury accidents on the Seward Highway in 2008, a rash of serious collisions on the Seward Highway have grabbed the attention of local residents. A pall was cast over the New Year when two Girdwood women were killed in collisions in the same stretch of highway between Bird and Girdwood. In the summer a young 16-year-old girl was killed in the same stretch of road.
The fatalities have many people talking about how to solve the problem. At a recent meeting of Girdwood 2020, a task force was formed to address the problem.
However, despite the rash of collisions at the end of last year, the Seward Highway has seen in fact seen a 77 percent reduction in fatal and major injury crashes since the establishment of a safety corridor in May 2006, according to the Department of Transportation and Public Facilities (DOT&PF).
Girdwood Valley Fire Department and Rescue’s Chief Chadwick said in 2006 they responded to 40 serious accidents, including those with fatalities, compared to 32 serious accidents in 2007, and 28 in 2008.
In addition to the safety corridor, Chadwick says better trained emergency response crews and new equipment, such as the new jaws of life, have also helped save lives on the infamously dangerous Seward Highway when accidents do occur.
“When people crash going in the same direction they don’t hit each other very hard,” said Chadwick, who believes the highway should be divided. “But when someone loses control and goes into on-coming traffic, we’re looking at collisions of upwards of 100 mph and someone’s going to get hurt.”
“I think everyone agrees a four lane highway is ultimately what needs to happen,” said state Dept. of Transportation and Project Safety Manager Miriam McCulloch. “But that could be said about any highway.”
While admitting that’s a long-term goal, she says the money for such a massive project just isn’t available.
“What we are looking at is two things, putting in passing lanes, which really help with fatal and major accidents, and adding frontage roads.”
Currently there are about 35 driveways on a notoriously dangerous stretch of road between Bird and Indian, mileposts 99 to 105. That section of highway, in particular, creates friction points, which cause accidents. Frontage roads would cut the access points to four instead of the existing 35.
While the state is already a couple of years into the process of improving safety on this stretch of road, it could still be up to 10 more years before construction actually begins.
“This is where it starts to get really frustrating because we’re working with federal money which requires a very linear public process that can’t be rushed,” said McCulloch.
That process includes an environmental assessment, the phase DOT is currently making progress on, which can take two to three years. If approved in a year or two, design work can begin and generally will take one to two years. Property acquisition takes approximately one additional year.
While many believe concrete median barriers, called jersey barriers, seem to be at least a temporary solution in light of the number of fatal head-on collisions, McCulloch disagrees.
Dividing a highway with jersey barriers can only be considered if two lanes are available in each direction. Space must be made available for traffic to negotiate around disabled vehicles and turn lanes for local and emergency access must be provided. Median barriers would also adversely affect emergency response time.
“Jersey barrier separation is not advisable for two lane roadways like the Seward Highway because there is insufficient width in which to place the barrier and provide for these movements,” McCulloch said.
The DOT also has plans to help with seasonal congestion caused by the Hooligan fishery between Girdwood and Portage. Passing lanes and additional parking is planned near Twentymile River in hopes of cutting back on the dangerous situation caused by people parking along the highway and crossing the road to get to the Arm.
The DOT is seeking public input on both projects in hope of addressing concerns along the way and speeding up the process. Log onto www.sewardhighway75-90.net to express your opinion, thoughts, or concerns.