 Gravina Access Project - Open House Pennock Island Crossing not a 'done deal' by Dick Kauffman February 12, 2002
Not only did Monday's Open House offer an opportunity for community members to obtain information about the Gravina Project, community members were also able to ask questions of project mangers Mark Dalton of HDR Alaska and Roger Healy of the Alaska DOT&PF and to provide verbal and written comments to the project managers. The event was well attended by Ketchikan citizens. According to Dalton and Healy, continuous public input is a key element of the Gravina Access Project and there continues to be numerous opportunities for the public to comment on the project alternatives and the evaluation of project impacts. From now through March 15, the project team is accepting comments on DOT&PF's recommended Pennock Island Crossing alternative and the evaluation of alternatives that led to that recommendation. This open comment period also offers the opportunity for the Ketchikan community to weigh in with its recommended alternative. On January 7, 2002, Joe Perkins, Commissioner of the Alaska DOT&PF, announced alternative F3 - the bridge alternative that crosses Pennock Island - as DOT&PF's recommended alternative for the Gravina Access Project. According to the DOT&PF, its recommendation was based on its careful review of technical studies conducted for the Gravina Access Project during the past year. The Pennock Island Crossing
recommended alternative was selected over seven other alternatives
and the no action alternative. Commissioner Perkins said the
Pennock Island Crossing was chosen because it best meets the
community's need for improved access to Gravina Island, allows
the passage of major cruise ships, has less impact of float plane
traffic and the Ketchikan International Airport, will be less
visibly intrusive, and uses bridge structures that are not as
technically challenging as other alternatives. Building the crossing According to the Draft Gravina Access Project Alternatives Evaluation Summary Report dated January 2002, although DOT&PF views the Pennock alternative as its recommended alternative, it recognizes the challenges associated with this crossing:
A February 2002 DOT&PF newsletter stated that the department made its recommendation publicly known to encourage a dialogue within the community and to get the community's input on a recommended alternative. Now that the DOT&PF has made its recommendation for the Gravina Access Project, the DOT&PF says it is time for the community to weigh in and provide input. Over the next couple of months, the department is welcoming input from members of the community on the evaluation of all of the alternatives currently under consideration and DOT&PF's recommendation for the Pennock Island Crossing - Alternative F3. Additional public meetings are being scheduled for February 26 with the Ketchikan Planning Commission and a public meeting is also scheduled on March 4th with the Ketchikan Borough Assembly. At these meetings, additional questions may be asked of the project team and public comments will be taken. Dalton & Healy remarked that what they heard clearly from community members attending Monday's Open House was that the community of Ketchikan desires another Open House and more opportunities to comment on the project. According to Mark Dalton, another Public Open House may be scheduled for March 4. The date will be finalized in the near future and public notice provided. The Pennock Island Crossing alternative is not a 'done deal' - the public comment period is open and comments are welcomed by the DOT&PF. To provide comments, you can submit written comments at any time in the environmental review process. Written comments can be sent via e-mail or traditional mail services. The Gravina Access Project web site also provides a comment submittal form.
About the Open House Photos: Related Information:
More Open House Photos:
Open House digital photos by Dick Kauffman.
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the recent DOT&PF's
announcement regarding its decision to recommend the alternative
that crosses Pennock Island. It was stressed during the Public
Open House Monday that the DOT&PF considers the Pennock Island
Crossing as their recommended alternative rather than a preferred
alternative. The Pennock Island Crossing recommendation was announced
earlier in January during a news conference held in Ketchikan.
at Pennock Island is estimated to cost $190 million according
to the AK DOT&PF.