DOT details Ingram–Gamble safety work, says lane reductions require engineered analysis
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Summary
Alaska DOT told the Senate Transportation Committee it is prioritizing undergrounding utilities and signal upgrades on Anchorage's Ingram–Gamble corridor and that formal lane reductions will follow stamped engineering analyses under a July chief engineer's directive.
The Alaska Department of Transportation and Public Facilities on Thursday told the Senate Transportation Committee it is moving ahead with safety work on the Ingram–Gamble corridor in Anchorage but that formal lane reductions will not be implemented without engineered analysis.
Ryan Anderson, commissioner of the Alaska Department of Transportation and Public Facilities, told the committee the Highway Safety Improvement Program (HSIP) for federal fiscal year 2026 focuses on intersection crashes, roadway departures and pedestrian fatalities and that safety is “a part of all our projects.” He said a chief engineer's directive issued in July provides consistent technical guidance for lane reductions and road-diet analysis statewide so engineers produce stamped reports documenting capacity, crash-rate and operational impacts.
“The directive was not put in place to stall projects,” Anderson said. “This was really about having good strong policy on this so that as we go forward, it's real clear to everybody.”
Anderson described the Ingram–Gamble work as three coordinated efforts: signal modernization and intersection improvements, utility pole removal and corridor lighting upgrades, and extensive undergrounding of electric, telecom, natural gas and water/sewer systems. He said DOT believes utility undergrounding can begin in March and that the department has added contractor resources to accelerate delivery.
“We believe the utility company can be underground in utilities in March,” Anderson said, adding the department expects to obligate other project pieces in August and convert advanced construction funds in 2027.
Senators pressing DOT said they were concerned projects that had been discussed in prior years appeared removed from the December HSIP revision. Senator Tobin said some commitments dated to 2020–2022 and that the public had provided feedback. Anderson responded that lane reductions did not appear as formal scopes until the December HSIP update and that, in some cases, projects were delayed because they were not ready for delivery.
DOT also listed several other Anchorage safety projects receiving HSIP funding or design work, including Tudor Road improvements, Baxter Road to Patterson channelization, and pedestrian upgrades on 5th Avenue. Anderson said municipal requests to relinquish downtown segments (5th/6th/L Streets) will require traffic modeling and federal coordination; following relinquishment the municipality would receive a project to implement and then maintain the corridor.
The committee asked for follow‑up materials. Chair Senator Bjorkman requested written detail on what adjustments were made to STIP Amendment 2 and how those changes affected project delivery schedules. Anderson said DOT will provide an updated letter to the committees reflecting recent work and the changes to the STIP.
The committee adjourned at 2:48 p.m.
