The Alaska Department of Transportation and Public Facilities (ADOT&PF), in cooperation with the Alaska Division of the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA), is proposing to construct a new road segment leading to the existing Unalakleet landfill and raise the grade of the existing landfill road to reduce flooding impacts. Unalakleet is located on the Norton Sound at the mouth of the Unalakleet River, 148 miles southeast of Nome and 395 miles northwest of Anchorage. The proposed road is in Section 23, Township 18 South, Range 11 West, Kateel River Meridian, and the proposed re-grading is in Sections 34 and 35 of Township 18 South, Range 11 West, Kateel River Meridian (refer to Figure 1). Unalakleet is located at latitude 63.891667 North and longitude 160.809444 West (USGS Quadrangle Unalakleet D - 4).
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
The City of Unalakleet has proposed to construct solid waste drying beds to alleviate the severely overloaded, existing sanitary sewage lagoon and has requested the ADOT&PF construct an access road. The ADOT&PF is also proposing to raise the grade of the landfill road on the east side of Kouwegok Slough, as water has washed over the roadway and eroded the existing embankment near the bridge (refer to Figure 1 for the location of the proposed projects).
The following issues will be addressed in this project:
 |
Provide access to the solid waste drying beds (refer to Figure 1) |
|
Alleviate flooding of the roadway at the Kouwegok Slough Bridge |
| Proposed Action | |
| The
proposed action consists of three elements, which include: Constructing an approximately 700-foot long sanitation road between the existing landfill road and the west corner of the landfill. The new road will have an approximately 22-foot driving surface with 2:1 side slopes and an average fill depth of 7.5 feet from existing ground elevation. A gate will be installed to manage access to the landfill and a culvert will be installed to provide drainage to the surrounding area (refer to Figure 2). Raising the grade at the intersection of the new sanitation roadway and the existing Landfill road to provide stopping distance prior to the intersection of the two roads and vehicle storage in the travel lane. The maximum fill depth is 3.5 feet at the intersection and tapers to existing ground approximately 330 feet south of the intersection and approximately 200 feet north of the intersection (refer to Figure 2). Raising the grade of the landfill road approximately 1,300 feet on the east side of Kouwegok Slough to one foot over the 100-year floodplain elevation to alleviate flooding. The average depth of the grade increase is approximately 2.0 feet and the roadway footprint will be increased by 7.6 feet (refer to Figure 2). An existing material site located approximately 900 feet northwest of the landfill, previously been cleared by the State Historic Preservation Office, will be used for the proposed project. This site does not require additional permitting. |
Preliminary Research
Results
To ensure that all factors are considered in the environmental document, your
comments are requested no later than October 27, 2005. Below is a list of
federal, state and local entities that we are requesting input from. Please
click on the organization that you represent. This will take you to a list
of questions specific to your purview.
If you have any questions regarding this project, please call our Environmental Consultant, Kristen Hansen, at DOWL Engineers, at 562-2000, or by e-mail to khansen@dowl.com. Should you have any questions on the design of the proposed project, pleaes contact Cindie Little, P.E., Engineering Manager, at (907) 451-2284 or e-mail cindie_little@dot.state.ak.us.
 |
Appendix A |
|
Figure 1 - Location/Vicinity Map |
|
Figure 2 - Proposed Improvements |
