By Kate Sandberg
Special to the Glacier City Gazette
The Girdwood community and its visitors are going to experience a heavy construction season this summer. This construction will bring long sought improvements, among them a completely new and widened Alyeska Highway bike path from the U.S. Forest Service building to Crow Creek Road. Other projects are reconstruction of Egloff Drive from Alyeska Highway past the Community Center, completion of Olympic Circle, and the extension of Arlberg on Alyeska Resort property.
The Girdwood Trails Committee suggests that pedestrians and bicyclists be careful as they use the town paths this summer. Children especially will have to be made aware of new traffic patterns going to the library and recreational facilities, such as the baseball fields and skate park.
According to Kyle Kelley, Girdwood’s MOA Liaison, the new Alyeska Highway Safety Corridor Path will be rebuilt in sections. Contractors will set temporary lanes for cars and for pedestrians and bicyclists. When it is done, the paved path will be 10 feet wide.
The Egloff project will impact access to the fire station, baseball fields, Little Bears Playhouse, tennis courts, the skate park, the playground, Gerrish Library and the Community Center. Olympic Circle construction will continue from last summer and be completed as soon as possible.
The Arlberg extension construction will block access to the Nordic 5K Loop at Arlberg on Resort Property. Loop access will be only possible by using the established Winner Creek Trail and one its two connectors to it.
The Trails Committee would like to propose some safety guidelines for this construction period.
- Pay attention to construction signs, hazard cones and trail closure signs.
- Follow directional signs; short cuts are dangerous.
- Observe fencing that restricts access to construction areas.
- Keep your head up. Do not text or browse email when approaching potentially hazardous areas.
- Keep an ear open. Walking or running with headphones can isolate pedestrians from their surroundings. If you must walk or run with music, leave one ear open.
- If sidewalks or paths are not available, walk facing traffic and cross at corners or intersections whenever possible.
- Stand clear of parked vehicles or other obstacles before crossing walkways or streets near construction areas so others can see you.
- Stay clear of all heavy equipment, whether it is moving or not.
At times this summer, it might seem like the construction will never end. But when the season is over, Girdwood is going to have a wide, safe Alyeska Highway bike path and two newly paved streets that have sidewalks. It is going to be great!