Construction Report: Fairbanks and North Pole receive sidewalk improvements

FAIRBANKS, Alaska (KTVF) - The Alaska Department of Transportation (DOT) is working to improve sidewalks in Fairbanks and North Pole this summer. The DOT is working on four sidewalks - two in Fairbanks and two in North Pole. According to DOT Northern Region Information Officer Caitlin Frye, they are working with the FAST Planning (Fairbanks Area Surface Transportation) on the project.

Frye said that they are working on the sidewalks to improve Americans with Disabilities Act compliance as well as improve drainage.

On Monday a crew was outside of University Park Elementary School installing a new sidewalk on Loftus Road. Frye said, “They have ripped out the existing sidewalk that was there previously and they are putting in a new sidewalk that has an asphalt surface and is going to be compliant with the Americans with Disabilities Act. So it is going to have curb ramps that will be accessible.”

In North Pole they are moving a sidewalk on North Pole High School Boulevard from one side of the road to the other. That project is untended to fix drainage issues that caused water to pool up on the road. They are also building a new concrete sidewalk on Snowman Lane in North Pole.

The Loftus sidewalk is one project in Fairbanks, and crews have already finished building a bike path at the Carlson Center to connect with new paths in Growden Park.

These projects are part of the FAST Planning Sidewalk Improvements planned for 2021.

“FAST Planning is a nonprofit that brings together all the local government as well as other agencies and stakeholders to fix up local roads around town,” Frye said. She said they get most of their money from the Federal Government.

She said the sidewalk projects are expected to cause minimal traffic delays, temporary lane closures and short delays from flaggers.

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