Despite ongoing right-of-way disputes and pandemic concerns, summer work on the Haines Highway construction project is still scheduled to take place, according to the Alaska Department of Transportation.

The goal of the project is to widen and straighten the Haines Highway between milepost 3.9 and 25 to allow for a 55-mph speed limit. Construction began in 2018 and is scheduled to take place in segments over a six- to eight-year period. 

The next phase of the project is set to begin this summer but is currently behind schedule, DOT Southcoast Region construction chief Vic Winters said. He said the department had planned to have the project advertised by now but is still working through right-of-way issues.

Sorting out the right-of-way issues is the last step for DOT before it can advertise the project, preliminary design and environmental chief for the Southcoast Region Greg Lockwood said.

Lockwood said if all goes well, the project will be advertised beginning mid-May. The process of advertising and awarding a contract takes roughly two months if everything runs smoothly, which means construction would begin in the middle of July at the earliest.

The last phase of the project left off at milepost 12, Lockwood said. The next phase will go from milepost 12 to milepost 20 or 23. He said DOT is still working to identify the endpoint for the next phase as it is tied to resolution of one of the right-of-way disputes. Both Lockwood and Winters declined to comment on right-of-way disputes because of ongoing legal issues.

Lockwood said while the plan is to get the project advertised as soon as possible, if it’s significantly delayed, it’s feasible that the start of construction would not begin until 2021. If this happens, the completion date for the project will be adjusted accordingly. 

“Given the global pandemic, maybe the timing is good for (the Haines Highway construction project) to be delayed,” Winters said.

Last month, the state issued a mandate prohibiting all travel between communities unless necessary to “support critical infrastructure or for critical personal needs.” People traveling for these purposes are exempt from any quarantine requirements.

Over the past few weeks, a number of Haines residents have expressed concern about employees whose work supports “critical infrastructure” entering the community and potentially introducing COVID-19 to Haines. Many have expressed particular concern about the summer construction season.

In response to these concerns, at a recent town hall, borough manager Debra Schnabel said the borough has three projects scheduled for the summer: a paving project on Allen Road, a harbor construction project and a water and sewer project. The borough has the ability to require that these projects be completed using local hires or, if necessary, be postponed, she said. In some cases, this may require renegotiating contracts. However, the borough has no control over workers brought in for Haines Highway construction as it is a state project, she said.

The Haines Borough has reached out to the state for guidance about whether the community is allowed to impose more stringent travel restrictions such as requiring businesses whose workers enter the community to submit protection plans directly to the borough. The state has yet to respond.

DOT spokesperson Sam Dapcevich said the department is working with local communities to address coronavirus-related concerns. “We will work with communities to make our construction activities consistent with federal and state health mandates and guidance, as well as any local travel restrictions and guidance.” DOT contractors are required to develop a state-approved work plan to protect the communities in which they operate, he said.

Dapcevich said while the department encourages local hire, it cannot require it for a federally funded project like the Haines Highway. “During the current COVID-19 crisis it may be beneficial for companies to hire locally, but that would be their decision,” he said.

The pandemic and current mitigation efforts will not significantly impact the schedule for the Haines Highway project, according to DOT.