Denali Seeks Input on Proposed Highway Wayside

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News Release Date: October 28, 2015
Contact: Molly McKinley, [phone]

As a safety enhancement project, the State of Alaska Department of Transportation and Public Facilities (ADOT&PF) plans to replace the existing bridge at Mile 231 with a newly designed bridge with deceleration lanes. In addition, the project includes building walkways adjacent to and below the highway to help minimize pedestrian traffic on the highway.

Denali National Park and Preserve is proposing to augment the safety enhancement project by providing an off-highway parking area for park visitors who currently park adjacent to the highway while photographing the park entrance sign or accessing trails in the area.

Federal agencies are encouraged to involve interested parties through a process referred to as “scoping.” Scoping allows an interested party the opportunity to make suggestions early in the planning process.

The public’s comments in this scoping process will be used to gather input about current use of the area and seek feedback about possible site designs and facilities for consideration in the project’s alternatives. This information will be used to prepare the Environmental Assessment (EA).


Submitting Comments

Denali National Park and Preserve is seeking public feedback about:

• The general concept of a trailhead and wayside at Mile 231
• The type and number of amenities fitting to a possible wayside (e.g. parking capacity and types of vehicles, iconic park sign location, rest area facilities, bus drop-off/pick-up, picnic tables and park staff presence)
• Spur trail connections from the proposed wayside to the existing Oxbow and Triple Lakes Trails and a possible river overlook. 
• An additional connector trail which might be built pending future construction of a Nenana Trail River Trail (forthcoming EA this fall/winter) 

The public comment period ends at midnight (ADT) December 19, 2015. Comments can be submitted:

• Online at the NPS Planning, Environment and Public Comment (PEPC) website, (preferred method for commenting) 
• Via email  
• Hand delivered or mailed to: Superintendent, Denali National Park and Preserve, P.O. Box 9, Denali Park, AK 99755 
• In person at the park’s open house meeting, where the public may learn more about this and other park topics on November 18, 6-8 p.m. at the McKinley Village Community Center. For more information:

To view maps and possible concepts for the site, visit the project website.

Also, check out Alaska DOT’s planning website for the 231 Safety enhancement project. 

For more information or directions contact Molly McKinley, Outdoor Recreation Planner, at or [e-mail].

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