News Release

Environmental Assessment for Milepost 231 Enhancements Now Open for Public Comments

Date: October 3, 2017
Contact: Denali Planning Team

An environmental assessment analyzing a proposal to construct a new wayside and associated trail connections at milepost 231 on the George Parks Highway within Denali National Park and Preserve is available is available for public review and comment.

The environmental assessment evaluates an action alternative and a no-action alternative. The proposed action has been designed in conjunction with the Federal Highways Administration and the Alaska Department of Transportation and Public Facilities (ADOT&PF) to address safety concerns about unsafe traffic patterns and the lack of pedestrian facilities in the McKinley Village area, near milepost 231. ADOT&PF plans to add pedestrian lanes and underpasses to the highway bridge over the Nenana River. The specific details of the project on park lands include an approximately 2.5 acre wayside with wayside amenities as well as approximately 2500 feet of trail connections linking the wayside with existing area trails and the new pedestrian lanes adjacent to the new highway bridge. The proposed wayside would permit park visitors who are photographing the park sign or accessing area trails to park away from the highway.

The Milepost 231 Wayside and Trail Connections Environmental Assessment is available on the Planning, Environment and Public Comment Site (PEPC). Comments can be submitted directly on the PEPC site, e-mailed to e-mail us, or mailed to Superintendent, Denali National Park and Preserve, P.O. Box 9, Denali Park, AK 99755. Comments will be accepted through November 1, 2017.

In response to requests for additional review time, the public comment period for the Denali Long Range Transportation Plan is extended to November 1, 2017.