I very much appreciated Thomas Thibodeau’s letter to the editor about a possible causeway across Turnagain Arm. I wrote something similar to the editor a few years ago. I don’t recall if it was ever published. A safety factor needs to be considered for the Kenai Peninsula.
I live in Soldotna and often think about a second exit for the Kenai. During the summer fishing months, traffic can be backed up for more than a mile at the Sterling-Seward Highway junction on a Sunday afternoon, headed back to Anchorage. We travel very seldom to Anchorage, only when necessary. We missed being covered by an avalanche by a few minutes one winter evening, so we were told. It would be interesting to determine how many times traffic has been stopped over the years or the train has been stopped for the same reason, not to mention traffic deaths. Public safety should be figured in here at some point.
The letter I sent in suggested a bridge that would handle large trucks, cars and trains, saving fuel, time, distance and lives. Can it be done? Of course. Some of the larger bridges in the world start at 20 miles or more in length, built by countries with less funds than we have. Oil money, here we come. Give our engineers something to think about. The bore tides might be worked in to provide electric power. Reduced wear and tear on the Seward Highway would certainly be a plus. Pipeines would certainly be easier to maintain. The oil companies, the state-owned rail system should get in on the act.
The Kenai Peninsula needs another safety exit. The next earthquake just might move further south. We live here because we want to, and I would like to continue living.
- Darrell Marshall
Soldotna
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