Chilkat Valley News - Serving Haines and Klukwan, Alaska since 1966

At the Nov. 3 Ports and Harbors Committee meeting I asked the first four questions below. Chair Diana Lapham suggested I submit the questions to the Borough for posting on the Lutak Dock website. As of Tuesday afternoon, none were posted. Design work is on-going. Now is the time for questions.

1. Has the Turnagain proposal been presented to the Alaska Marine Highway System for comment on possible problems with ferry docking due to the Lutak Dock face being pushed seaward? {answer: "no," until I contacted them myself}

2. R&M's estimate for the borough's dock maintenance costs were $3.75M every 10 years. Has Turnagain presented maintenance cost estimates for their design? Who pays for millions of dollars in maintenance if user fees don't cover costs?

3. Will Turnagain test for contamination in the dock? If contamination is found, will that affect design plans and building schedules? How will "encapsulation" prevent leaching of contaminants below the new dock face and into the marine environment?

4. Tie-backs will be attached to "pre-cast anchors behind existing cells." To what will these anchors be attached given structural problems with existing cells? R&M's design called for demolishing the existing cells due to poor-quality fill. How can Turnagain do what R&M could not?

5. Are electrical costs included in Turnagain's cost estimate? Our government needs to hear your questions!

http://www.hainesalaska.gov/ports/lutak-dock-replacement-project

Eric Holle