The Alaska Department of Transportation & Public Facilities (DOT&PF) has assumed the responsibilities of the Federal Highway Administration under 23 U.S.C. 327 and is soliciting comments and information on a proposal to replace the existing culverts located on the Radio Tower Access Road in Anchorage, Alaska. The culverts are impeding fish passage in the North Fork of Campbell Creek and need to be replaced.

The proposed project may include:

• Culvert replacement
• Temporary stream diversion
• Stream bank reconstruction
• Stream realignment
• Utility relocation
• Vegetation clearing and/or grubbing

The existing culverts on Radio Tower Access Road are undersized and in poor condition. Their limited capacity prevents the stream from safely passing 100-year flood flows, increasing the risk of roadway overtopping and infrastructure damage. Additionally, the culverts do not meet current fish passage standards, creating a barrier to aquatic organism movement and negatively affecting habitat connectivity. The purpose of the project is to improve safety and reliability of the transportation infrastructure and to restore fish passage at the culvert crossings on Radio Tower Access Road. This will be achieved by addressing hydraulic capacity deficiencies and removing barriers to aquatic organism passage.

The project is expected to include culvert replacement in an unmapped floodplain associated with Campbell Creek (FEMA FIRM panel 0200050766D). Project activities, such as streambank reconstruction & realignment, culvert replacements, and temporary stream diversion, may encroach into the base floodplain of the North Fork of Campbell Creek. The culvert replacement would constitute a functionally dependent use and the encroachment is anticipated to be minor, with no net changes to the base flood elevation. Project development will proceed in accordance with E.O. 11988 and will meet the terms and conditions of all applicable permits. Work within wetlands and waters of the U.S. is expected to meet the criteria necessary for a U.S Army Corp of Engineers Section 404 Permit.

The proposed project would comply with all applicable authorities including Section 106 of the National Historic Preservation Act; Executive Order-11990 (Wetland Protection); Executive Order-11988 (Floodplain Management); Clean Air Act; Clean Water Act; U.S. Fish and Wildlife Coordination Act; U.S. DOT Act Section 4(f); Bald and Golden Eagle Protection Act; Endangered Species Act; Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation Management Act; and Section 6(f) of the Land and Water Conservation Act.

Construction for the proposed project is expected to begin in Summer 2027. To ensure that all possible factors are considered, please provide written comments to the following address by August 21, 2026.

 
Brian Elliott, Regional Environmental Manager
DOT&PF Preliminary Design & Environmental
P.O. Box 196900
Anchorage, Alaska 99519-6900
Brian.Elliott@Alaska.gov

If you have any questions or require additional information, please contact Travis Holmes, P.E., Project Manager, at 269-0543 or travis.holmes@alaska.gov.

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.

It is the policy of the Alaska Department of Transportation & 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, Federal Aviation Administration, Federal Highway Administration and State of Alaska Funds.

The DOT&PF complies with Title II of the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990. Individuals with a hearing impairment can contact DOT&PF at our Telephone Device for the Deaf (TDD) at (907) 269-0473.