Costs Continue to Rise for Proposed Road through Alaska Wilderness
in the Izembek National Wildlife Refuge and Wilderness Area
Recent information shared regarding the proposed road from King Cove to Cold Bay through Izembek National
Wildlife Refuge and Wilderness Area in Alaska has not included a comprehensive view of the total potential costs
of this project to taxpayers. Information pulled from both federal and state sources reveals a more comprehensive
picture. The first 17.2-mile section of road from King Cove to the North East hovercraft terminal site has been
under construction with $39.5 million (nearly entirely federal money) designated to complete the project this
coming summer, or $2.29 million per mile. Using U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and the Alaska Department of
Transportation and Public Facilities actual and projected cost information for the entire road, the following is a
summary of road costs.
1998 – 2006:
$25 million (from Public Law 105–277, Sec. 353) to build a 17.2 mile road from King Cove to the North East
Hovercraft Site – incomplete
+
2010 – 2013:
90% of $14.5 million = $13 million to complete the 17.2 mile road from King Cove to the North East Hovercraft Site
(actual cost from Alaska Department of Transportation; projected cost was $21.9 million as listed here: search for
“King Cove to Cold Bay Corridor”). 90% is the federal contribution, the remaining 10% is covered by state match
money.
+
2014 and beyond:
90% of $21 million = $18.9 million to build a 21+ mile road from the North East Hovercraft Site to the City of Cold
Bay through the Izembek National Wildlife Refuge Wilderness (as listed here: search for “King Cove to Cold Bay
Road”). This is not expected to be enough money to complete the road.
Total Federal and State documented costs for the road: $60.5 million (federal portion is $56.9 million)
The Wilderness Society Projects:
Based on the costs for the first 17.2 mile section of road and other similar, remote road projects in Alaska, TWS
assumes an estimated, conservative cost of $2 million per mile for the section beyond the North East Hovercraft
Site. This per mile cost estimate does not include high-cost items, such as bridges over sensitive water bodies and
hauling gravel long distances from sources.
+
90% of an additional $21 million = $18.9 million to complete the 21+ mile road from the North East Hovercraft Site
to the City of Cold Bay to the total cost of the road.
=
Total TWS Projected Federal and State documented costs for the road: $81.5 million (federal portion is $75.8
million).