The Seward Highway Safety Corridor has been extended approximately three miles south to Mile 87 near the gun mount pullout. The three-mile stretch of highway is known for two historically dangerous curves in the road that has resulted in high numbers of fatal and serious injury vehicle crashes. The most recent fatality occurred less than a year ago when a mother and her young child were killed at one of the curves, said Trooper Sergeant Brian Barlow. He said that particular section of highway is being studied by an engineering firm to determine how to improve it for safety. The speed limit remains 65 mph, but all fines are now doubled for speeding or any moving or equipment violations within that stretch of highway. The Seward Highway Safety Corridor begins at mile 117 near the Rabbit Creek gun range and continues now until mile 87 of the highway.
This ski season a bad tumble on the slopes can have a much happier landing. Kerry Dorius, Advanced Nurse Practitioner, Girdwood Clinic, and Dr. George Rhyneer, orthopedic surgeon, Rhyneer Clinic, are teaming up to provide better, faster, up to date orthopedic care in Girdwood.
The Girdwood Clinic has x-ray, splint and pain treatment capabilities. Dr. Rhyneer is working with the clinic to improve emergency care for all orthopedic injuries. He will also see patients with new injuries, old injuries, and any follow up patients at a regular clinic in Girdwood each month. He will be available for consultation through the Girdwood clinic for ski injuries and other orthopedic emergencies during the ski season and throughout the year. This will mean orthopedic injuries can be evaluated and the latest in orthopedic treatment can begin at the Girdwood Clinic within 30 minutes of injury.
The teamwork between Girdwood Clinic and Rhyneer Clinic will save injured patients a forty-five minute ride to Anchorage and the extra cost of an emergency room visit, and pain medication will be available to them much sooner. Head, spine, and neck injuries will still be directed to Anchorage through the Girdwood EMS system.
Dr. Rhyneer’s first clinic in Girdwood is Saturday, Dec.1. That evening there will be an open house at the Girdwood Clinic from 6 p.m. to 8 pm. Whether or not you have old, new, or no orthopedic injuries, please feel welcome to stop by and meet Dr. George Rhyneer at the Girdwood Clinic.
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Ken Smith/Turnagain Times The Nugget condominium, which is adjacent to the Sitzmark, was torn down Nov. 7 to make room for skiers at the base of Chair 3. Next up on the wrecking crew schedule is the Sitzmark itself. The popular bar and grill will be torn down in the next two years and rebuilt by the daylodge. |