Travelers between Sterling and Cooper Landing can look forward to construction work continuing as long as the weather holds out.
“What we’re doing this fall is trying to do a lot of the clearing, a lot of the widening and a lot of the bridge work as well," said Shannon McCarthy, Department of Transportation spokesperson.
The stretch between mileposts 79 and 61 past Jean Lake will get wider shoulders and 8 miles worth of passing lanes. Six wildlife crossings will be included in the work, with the intent of avoiding collisions with moose. A bridge over the East Fork of the Moose River will also be installed.
Hikers will have to wait until at least next year for one of the more eagerly anticipated parts of the project, a pedestrian underpass to the Skyline Trailhead. McCarthy says traffic delays should be expected for awhile.
“I’m anticipating another three to six weeks of work. They are pushing the season. They’re having to move back their hours of work because of daylight. They’re starting around 9 o’clock now. They’ll push it as far as they can then wrap it up, put it in a configuration that’s comfortable for drivers, and then we’ll start back up in the spring.”
The $54 million project is expected to be finished by the summer of 2019.