![]() ![]() So, quite honestly, the residents of King Cove are still in the same position they were previously-relying on good weather conditions for emergency flights. ![]() The 20-minute crossing of the waters of Cold Bay often proved too difficult for the hovercraft. It’s one of the most memorable projects I’ve worked on but, even today, the “project” isn’t truly complete.Īfter several years attempting to use the hovercraft, the AEB abandoned it as a feasible transportation link. An environmental impact statement was completed, followed by a decade of field investigations, study and design that culminated in three separate construction projects to complete an 18-mile road. Between 19, 12 people died during aerial medical evacuations en route flying from King Cove to the hub airport.Įxtensive study by the AEB concluded that a road from King Cove to the Northeast Corner of Cold Bay (NeCB) with transport service by hovercraft to the City of Cold Bay would best meet the communities’ transportation needs. The community wanted access to the all-weather airport in Cold Bay for medical emergencies. Congress passed legislation that provided the Aleutians East Borough (AEB) with funding to construct a year-round transportation link between the cities of King Cove and Cold Bay. That move is only the latest volley.Īt the heart of the debate is the safety of residents versus protecting Alaska’s spectacular wilderness and wildlife. signed a land swap deal that would allow construction of a 12-mile gravel road through the Izembek National Wildlife Refuge. Department of Interior and King Cove Corp. The communities are more than 600 air miles from Anchorage and completely disconnected from Alaska’s main road system. ![]() The road would link King Cove and Cold Bay-communities with approximately 900 and 125 residents respectively-on the tip of the Alaska Peninsula where the Aleutian Island chain begins. In other ways, it’s unlike any project anywhere else. In some ways, it’s not unlike many projects with conflicting interests. to help this community prosper.For the past 20 years, a gravel road in remote Alaska has been a bit like a tennis ball-bouncing back and forth between two powerful players-the State of Alaska and the US Department of Interior. But that earmark quickly became the target of widespread public criticism and was labeled the “bridge to nowhere.” Members of Congress eventually stripped the funds that had been designated for the bridge from a larger spending bill, but allowed Alaska to keep $223 million for other needs.Īfter that decision, according to a front-page article in the Ketchikan Daily News, Palin said during a Ketchikan Chamber of Commerce meeting: “The money that’s been appropriated for the project, it should remain available for a link. Don Young, both Republicans, who pushed the project through Congress in 2005 using earmarks - the controversial practice used by lawmakers to slip targeted spending into bills without public scrutiny. “Until there is an actual road to transport goods and materials, growth is not possible.” “To facilitate economic growth, we have to be able to actually get there,” said Thomas Williams, planning director for the Ketchikan Gateway Borough. ![]()
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