The Alaska Department of Transportation and Public Facilities has approved four long-term, non-permanent positions for hire for the Silvertip Maintenance Station on the Seward Highway.
Due to budget cuts, the Silvertip station, which covers plowing and maintenance for a large part of the Seward Highway, closed last year. Public pressure and a push from Soldotna Republican Sen. Peter Micciche prompted the state to agree to reopen the station late last month.
DOT spokesperson Shannon McCarthy says the timeline of reopening Silvertip will depend on how quickly they can fill the four non-permanent positions. McCarthy says DOT will look into hiring permanent employees in the future.
DOT hires employees out of Local 71 — the union representing many state of Alaska employees.
