Assembly approves preferred rock-slide mitigation plan, selects north access road

The Skagway Assembly voted to approve Alternative 2 as the preferred approach to mitigate a large unstable rock mass above town — a phased plan that methodically excavates unstable material, moves it down the slope and removes it from the toe, with permanent rockfall protections to follow. "Our recommendation as a team after looking at all these things is the 2nd alternative," said Kyle Brennan, the project manager and geotechnical engineer with Shannon & Wilson, who led the consultants' presentation and explained the trade-offs among four options.

Consultants said the north access route is preferred because it largely stays on municipal land, reduces permitting complications tied to state land and the railroad dock, and allows construction work in a less constrained schedule. Rex Wasser, rock mechanic specialist with Shannon & Wilson, noted seasonal constraints for a south approach and cited operational advantages for the north approach. The assembly added an amendment to the motion specifying the north access route and approved the combined action by roll call (6 yes). The consultants said final design work will address permitting (wetland and surface-water impacts), tree removal and trail restoration; HDR's cost estimate separates access-road development and trail restoration line items that will be refined during design.