STATE OF ALASKA DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION & PUBLIC FACILITIES NORTHERN REGION KOTZEBUE TO CAPE BLOSSOM ROAD RECONNAISSANCE STUDY STATE PROJECT NO. 76884 FEBRUARY 2011 Kotzebue to Cape Blossom Road - Reconnaissance Study February 2011 State Project No. 76884 TABLE OF CONTENTS EXECUTIVE SUMMARY .......................................................................................................................6 INTRODUCTION .................................................................................................................................7 PRELIMINARY PURPOSE AND NEED ....................................................................................................9 EXISTING CONDITIONS AND DATA AVAILABILITY .............................................................................. 10 LOCAL/REGIONAL SETTING ............................................................................................................................ 10 HISTORY ..................................................................................................................................................... 11 FACILITIES ................................................................................................................................................... 11 TRANSPORTATION ........................................................................................................................................ 11 CLIMATE ..................................................................................................................................................... 11 SADIE CREEK DRAINAGE ................................................................................................................................ 13 SOILS, GEOLOGY AND MATERIAL SOURCES ....................................................................................................... 15 Overview ............................................................................................................................................................................ 15 Existing Material Sources ................................................................................................................................................... 17 Potential Material Sources ................................................................................................................................................ 18 LAND STATUS .............................................................................................................................................. 19 ROW Requirements ........................................................................................................................................................... 20 ENVIRONMENTAL OVERVIEW ........................................................................................................... 21 AIR QUALITY ............................................................................................................................................... 21 COASTAL RESOURCES ................................................................................................................................... 22 COMPATIBLE LAND USE ................................................................................................................................ 22 Subsistence Activities ........................................................................................................................................................ 22 ANCSA 17(b) Trail Easements ............................................................................................................................................ 23 Native Allotments .............................................................................................................................................................. 23 Solid Waste Landfill ........................................................................................................................................................... 23 Windmill Farm ................................................................................................................................................................... 23 Cemeteries......................................................................................................................................................................... 24 Municipal Water Sources................................................................................................................................................... 25 Community Development.................................................................................................................................................. 25 ANCSA 14(c) Campsites ..................................................................................................................................................... 25 CONSTRUCTION IMPACTS .............................................................................................................................. 26 SECTION 4F ................................................................................................................................................. 26 HISTORIC AND ARCHAEOLOGICAL .................................................................................................................... 26 WATER QUALITY .......................................................................................................................................... 26 WETLANDS ................................................................................................................................................. 26 FISH AND WILDLIFE ...................................................................................................................................... 27 ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT CATEGORIES NOT ADDRESSED IN DETAIL ..................................................................... 28 STATE OF ALASKA Department of Transportation and Public Facilities Northern Region 2 Kotzebue to Cape Blossom Road - Reconnaissance Study February 2011 State Project No. 76884 ANTICIPATED PERMITS .................................................................................................................................. 28 ROAD DESIGN ..................................................................................................................................29 DESIGN CRITERIA ......................................................................................................................................... 29 PRELIMINARY ALIGNMENTS OPTIONS .............................................................................................................. 31 DRAINAGE STRUCTURES ................................................................................................................................ 32 ICE ROADS .................................................................................................................................................. 32 CONSTRUCTION THROUGH INNOVATIVE READINESS TRAINING ............................................................................. 33 COST ESTIMATES .............................................................................................................................. 34 COST VARIATION DUE TO CHANGES IN TYPICAL SECTION .................................................................................... 34 COST VARIATION DUE MATERIAL SOURCES AVAILABLE ...................................................................................... 35 PROJECT PHASING ........................................................................................................................................ 36 Phased Option 1: Construct to Sadie Creek ....................................................................................................................... 36 Phased Option 2: Improve Existing Road ........................................................................................................................... 36 COST FOR INNOVATIVE READINESS TRAINING CONSTRUCTION ............................................................................. 37 RECOMMENDED STUDIES FOR DESIGN ............................................................................................. 38 SPRING BREAK-UP STUDIES ........................................................................................................................... 38 GEOTECHNICAL STUDIES................................................................................................................................ 38 GIS DATABASE DEVELOPMENT ....................................................................................................................... 38 REFERENCES ....................................................................................................................................39 LIST OF PREPARERS .......................................................................................................................... 40 APPENDIX APPENDIX A - REFERENCE RESOURCE LIBRARY APPENDIX B - PRELIMINARY ALIGNMENTS APPENDIX C - ENVIRONMENTAL REPORTS APPENDIX D - LAND STATUS REPORT APPENDIX E - BRIDGE HYDRAULICS RECONNAISSANCE REPORT APPENDIX F - LOCAL GOVERNMENT RESOLUTIONS LIST OF TABLES TABLE 1 - NORTHWEST ARCTIC BOROUGH POPULATION (DCCED 2007) ................................................................. 10 TABLE 2 - KOTZEBUE CLIMATE DATA 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