Transit in the News

In brief: Anchorage Daily News

Legislators schedule hearing on bridges
January 9, 2006

Two House Republicans have scheduled a hearing Tuesday on Alaska's disputed bridge projects. That's Day 2 of the legislative session. Legislative staffers for House Transportation Committee Co-Chairmen Jim Elkins and Carl Gatto said the two wanted more public testimony early in the session about the Anchorage and Ketchikan projects as well as the state's priority list for transportation spending.

Lawmakers expect haggling over millions of dollars needed for Murkowski administration projects, which include a $250 million road from Juneau to Skagway. "I'm not going to hold my breath for a lot of consensus on the road issues," said Rep. Beth Kerttula, D-Juneau, and a member of the House Finance Committee.

Divisions are less partisan and more geographic: Elkins, of Ketchikan, is seeking to protect his district's Gravina Island bridge. Sen. Gary Wilken, R-Fairbanks, told the Juneau Empire he was distressed when the state "started ripping projects out of my (district) for bridges that haven't gone through a vetting process."

"I don't see the Gravina or Knik bridge as having priority over other projects in the state," said Wilken, co-chairman of the Senate Finance Committee.

Gov. Frank Murkowski last month announced his 2006 capital spending budget, providing $91 million for the Gravina Island project, $93.6 million for the Knik Arm bridge and $45 million for the Juneau access road.

The Legislature's finance committees typically take up the state's major capital project bills in late spring.

Back to top