AIDEA applies for West Susitna road permit

Alan Bailey

for Petroleum News

On July 25 the Alaska Industrial Development and Export Authority announced that it had applied to the U.S. Department of the Army for a permit for planned road construction in AIDEA's West Susitna Access Project. The project involves the building of a 78.5-mile road from the west side of the Susitna River, at a point 1.4 miles west of Alexander Creek, running north on the eastern side of Mount Susitna to a termination point not far south of Rainy Pass in the Alaska Range. The southern end of the road would connect with a road that the Alaska Department of Transportation and Public Facilities plans to build, running west from the Big Lake area, ending in a planned bridge across the Susitna River, near the start of the road that AIDEA is planning.

The concept behind the planned road system is to provide safe, year-round access to the western side of the Susitna Valley for recreational and commercial purposes. Currently the region has no road access.

In addition to potential forestry, agriculture, mining and recreational activities, the western Susitna Valley has natural gas resources, as well as the possibility of oil resources in the area of Mount Susitna. AIDEA says that the road system could enable the commercial use of designated critical mineral development areas. The northern end of the road would be situated towards the southern end of the Yentna Mining District.

"AIDEA's West Susitna Road holds significant value for Alaskans, especially local residents seeking better access to hunting, fishing, recreation, and potential opportunities in mining, processing and manufacturing," said Gov. Mike Dunleavy. "This project presents a fantastic opportunity for Alaska to expand and generate revenue."

In a March presentation to Knik Tribal Council, AIDEA said that during the 2024 field season the project had conducted a number of activities, including LIDAR acquisition and mapping; the conceptual engineering of project alternatives; cultural studies; fish studies; and wetlands studies.

--ALAN BAILEY