DOT&PF Notice to Begin Engineering & Environmental Studies and Floodplain Encroachment: Ketchikan South Tongass Highway and Water Street Viaduct Improvements

Project # SFHWY00196 The Alaska Department of Transportation and Public Facilities (DOT&PF) is proposing to rehabilitate pavement and make preservation improvements to the South Tongass Highway and Water Street Viaduct structures (Bridges #997 and #797) in Ketchikan, Alaska. This work is currently proposed in three construction stages. Stage 1. Pavement and Surface Rehabilitation The following pavement rehabilitation and preservation improvement activities are proposed along the existing transportation corridor of South Tongass Highway, Tongass Avenue, and Water Street: • Remove and replace pavement • Address structural needs of bridge deck surfaces across multiple segments • Remove deteriorated deck concrete using hydro-demolition • Repair shallow concrete restoration above the deck’s reinforcing steel • Repair or replace bridge deck expansion joints, as necessary • Restripe new pavement, make associated signing adjustments, curb ramp upgrades, and minor utility adjustments • Rehabilitate existing full-depth and rotational expansion joints within asphalt pavement removal areas Stage 2. Structural Rehabilitation and Repairs The activities described below are proposed to maintain the operational and structural integrity of Tongass Avenue and Water Street Viaduct structures: • Cathodic protection repairs • Rehabilitate selected bridge deck soffits, girders, bent cross beams, backwalls, and columns Stage 3. Drainage and Structural Road Upgrades The following activities are proposed to address deteriorating infrastructure features along Water Street from Schoenbar Road to the S-curve at Tongass Avenue (the location of the former Kennedy Street connection): • Replace Jim Creek culvert • Improve roadway stormwater collection and conveyance • Improve Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) features such as sidewalks, curb ramps, pedestrian routes, and driveway crossings • Repair deteriorated pavement exhibiting surface distress, cracking, settlement, and localized failures • Remove abandoned subsurface structural elements contributing to void formation to the extent practicable • Stabilize and fill voids with engineered materials along road structural sections. In areas where complete structural removal is not feasible, in-place stabilization techniques may be implemented Construction of the project is anticipated to start in 2030. Temporary lane closures, pedestrian-route changes, detours, and access disruptions are anticipated during construction. These impacts would be managed through a traffic control plan as the project progresses. Once construction schedules and traffic control measures are established, advance public notification of anticipated impacts will be provided. The proposed project area is located upland of a mapped floodplain (Zone AE). Based on currently available information, minor encroachments may occur. No longitudinal encroachment and no increase in the base flood elevation are anticipated. The environmental review, consultation, and other actions required by applicable Federal environmental laws for this project are being, or have been, carried out by DOT&PF pursuant to 23 U.S.C. 327 and a Memorandum of Understanding dated April 13, 2023, and executed by FHWA and DOT&PF. Development of this proposed project would follow a process required by the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA). Based on project location and scope of work, the environmental document is anticipated to be a Categorical Exclusion. Possible affected resources include waters of the U.S., eagles, Section 4(f) properties, invasive plants, and historic properties/cultural resources. The proposed project would comply with all applicable authorities including: • Bald and Golden Eagle Protection Act • Clean Air and Clean Water Acts • Endangered Species Act • EO-11988 (Floodplain Management) • Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act • National Historic Preservation Act - Section 106 • U.S. Fish and Wildlife Coordination Act • Americans with Disabilities Act • Archaeological Resources Protection Act • EO-11990 (Protection of Wetlands) • EO-13112 (Invasive Species) • Section 4(f) of the U.S. Department of Transportation Act • Migratory Bird Treaty Act • EO-13186 (Responsibilities of Federal Agencies to Protect Migratory Birds) • Anadromous Fish Conservation Act DOT&PF is soliciting comments on the proposed project. Your comments would help us evaluate potential environmental, social, and economic impacts of this project, as well as impacts to historic and cultural resources. Please submit your written comments to: Whitney Hamilton, Environmental Impact Analyst DOT&PF Southcoast Region P.O. Box 112506 Juneau, AK 99811-2506 Phone: (907) 465-2490 Fax: (907) 465-4414 Email: whitney.hamilton@alaska.gov To ensure that all possible factors are considered, please provide comments via email, fax, or mailing address by November 19, 2026. It is the policy of the Alaska Department of Transportation and Public Facilities (DOT&PF) that no person shall be excluded from participation in, or be denied benefits of, any and all programs or activities we provide based on race, religion, color, gender, age, marital status, ability, or national origin, regardless of the funding source including Federal Transit Administration (FTA), Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) and State of Alaska funds. DOT&PF complies with Title II of the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990. If you or someone you represent requires special accommodations in order to respond to this public notice, please call or email the project coordinator listed above, or call Alaska Relay at 711, or call (800) 770-8973 for TTY, (800) 770-8255 for voice, (800) 770-3919 for ASCII, (866) 355-6198 for STS. Ask the communications assistant to call the project coordinator listed above so arrangements can be made to assist you.