Construction restrictions everywhere you turn

This summer’s mild weather has seen good progress on several road projects in the Central Peninsula, and the long days and short nights have allowed two projects to commence work on a 24-hour-a-day basis.
Shoulder widening on the Sterling Highway north of Kasilof is one of those. It has flaggers and at times pilot cars controlling traffic. The Alaska Department of Transportation and Public Facilities wants you to keep an eye out for the hydro-seeding vehicle along the route between mileposts 97 and 118, and for the many moose spotted in the area.
There are flaggers on both ends of Kalifornsky Beach Road, alerting drivers of crack-sealing work being done at several spots.
Last week Kenai City Councilman Henry Knackstedt, who lives off Beaver Loop Road, cautioned others about work commencing there.
“Anybody that likes to take the Beaver Loop for kind of a quick way to get around town, don't do that because they're constructing it right now and they've got flags at least two spots, and especially on the on the west end,” Knackstedt said. “Quality (Asphalt Paving) is diving into it in a big way like they do, and (there’s) lots of progress. But if you hit it just wrong you might be waiting for five or 10 minutes.”
Starting next Aug. 19 DOT will be closing the intersection of Angler Drive and Beaver Loop for four days as utilities are moved, pipes are replaced and a bike path is constructed. Work will continue throughout the construction season, resulting in a complete resurfacing of Beaver Loop, plus adding a turning lane, a bike path, illumination, guardrails, and signage.
Off the east end of Beaver Loop, work on the Kenai Spur Highway continues with changing traffic patterns as both lanes of vehicles are routed to one side or the other as work progresses on the roadbed. Some of the work may temporarily limit use of the bike path through the area, according to the DOT project hotline.
The speed limit through the area is 45 mph, with double traffic fines for speeding.