Construction Report: Alaska DOT digital tools provide information to Fairbanksians about construction projects

FAIRBANKS, Alaska (KTVF) - Summer road construction is in full swing around Fairbanks. With the long days and short season to work, the Alaska Department of Transportation (DOT) is working round the clock to complete projects. The construction often brings long delays, road closures and detours on oft traveled roads.

“There is a lot of ways you can keep up with construction information throughout the season. A really great place to start is our Northern Region Construction website,” said Caitlin Frye, the Northern Region Information Officer for Alaska DOT.

The website has an interactive map with all of the projects in the area on it. Frye said, “We also have a couple of guided map tours that will take you through each project.”

The website is broken into two sections. Fairbanks and North Pole projects are on one page, with rural communities and highways on another. The website gives detailed information about each project including the contractor and contact information for project managers.

For information about traffic and detours, Frye says to use alaskanavigator.org. “If you are going on a road trip or you got a project that’s near your work or your home, that’s a really great place to check out exactly what kind of traffic impacts you are going to run into on the road.”

Frye said the DOT also posts lots of information to Facebook and Twitter. “Following our social media pages is a really great way to stay updated on all sorts of DOT stuff including traffic updates.”

Frye added they are always working to do better at getting information out. She said that on the Northern Region Construction website, “We also have a survey where you can tell us how you get your construction information and also what you care about with construction. That will help us make sure we’re getting the information you care about to you in ways that make sense to you.”

Frye also says that using the electronic signs around construction areas is a good way to follow what is happening.

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