DOT&PF Awards $29 Million for Kenai Spur Highway Upgrades
The Alaska Department of Transportation & Public Facilities has awarded a $29 million construction contract for Phase II of the Kenai Spur Highway Rehabilitation Project, set to begin in spring 2026 and finish by June 2028. This project will address a 5.7-mile section between Sports Lake Road and Swires Road, a corridor with crash rates higher than the state average and one of the highest moose collision areas in Alaska. State and borough officials emphasized the importance of overcoming Buy America challenges and praised the collaboration with federal partners to bring the long-awaited project to fruition.
The improvements will expand the current two-lane bottleneck into a safer, more efficient five-lane design with 12-foot through-lanes, a 14-foot center turn lane and continuous lighting to improve nighttime visibility. The upgrades also include culvert and guardrail replacements, pathway rerouting, driveway modifications and specific moose collision mitigation efforts. First built in 1956 and partially updated in 2004 with a shared-use pathway, the Kenai Spur Highway remains one of the busiest and most vital corridors on the Kenai Peninsula. This rehabilitation effort aims to reduce accidents, enhance safety and improve travel for residents and visitors alike.
