By Associated Press - Monday, February 6, 2017

JUNEAU, Alaska (AP) - A contractor has completed the first half-mile of a rough road that will provide additional access to the back side of Juneau’s Douglas Island.

The municipality of Juneau and a contractor broke ground last month on a 2.5-mile pioneer road that will extend the North Douglas Highway, the Juneau Empire (https://bit.ly/2lgjjnT) reported.

The city is working with construction company Enco Alaska Inc. on the West Douglas Pioneer Road and expects to complete the road in June.

The road initially will not be open to cars or even all-terrain vehicles. It will be more of a “long driveway,” said managing project engineer Alan Steffert, with the option of a future upgrade.

City developers and Alaska Native village corporation Goldbelt Inc. for years have considered improved access to municipal and corporation land on the Douglas Island, which is connected by bridge to the rest of Juneau. Goldbelt owns 1,827 acres of largely coastal land on the island.

A state grant is paying for the pioneer road, said Assemblyman Jesse Kiehl. The road will climb into benches and terraces below Mount Meek and then run parallel to coastline toward its planned end above Middle Point.

A concept plan for the area identified five “nodes” ranging from 50 to more than 200 acres where homes and businesses could be developed. One node begins where the pioneer road will end. It is envisioned to someday see 700 homes, a fire station, schools and retail shops on land owned by Goldbelt.

The city has not approved any development project in the area. When the road is completed, it will be open only to hiking and biking.

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Information from: Juneau (Alaska) Empire, https://www.juneauempire.com

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