Project Overview
Glenn Highway is one of Alaska’s most important transportation links—connecting Anchorage, Eagle River, and the Matanuska-Susitna Valley to jobs, schools, supplies, and medical care. Approximately 55,000 commuters and commercial vehicles travel the highway each day. With an increase in traffic expected, and a number of head-on collisions from vehicles crossing into oncoming traffic, the corridor needed to be widened to accommodate increased traffic while separating two-way traffic. Additionally, the steep grade on the southbound highway needed to be improved.
PND oversaw the redesign and reconstruction of 2.4 miles of Glenn Highway southbound from Eagle River Loop Road to Artillery Drive. The project included realigning Eagle View Drive (the west frontage road) to eliminate conflicts with a natural gas line and costly retaining walls while also updating drainage systems and roadside barriers to meet stringent requirements.
Our Role
- Structural Engineering: designed and updated roadside barriers; ensured structural integrity of bridges and highway retaining walls
- Geotechnical Engineering: evaluated soil conditions to design solutions for mechanically stabilized earth wall and foundation requirements
- Hydrology & Hydraulics: designed drainage systems and hydraulic structures for runoff
- Land Surveying: provided accurate data for design and construction phases
Improved Safety at Reduced Cost & Maintenance
The southbound Glenn Highway Capacity Improvements Design-Build Project in Eagle River, Alaska, was of paramount importance for the community and the region as a whole. This project, which reconstructed 2.4 miles of the southbound Glenn Highway, also included construction of a new 600-foot bridge across Eagle River and a 1.7-mile west frontage road. These improvements enhanced transportation infrastructure, improved traffic flow, and helped improve motorist safety.
The redesign of Eagle View Drive, the Glenn Highway’s west frontage road, was a critical component of this project. By eliminating conflicts with a natural gas line and costly retaining walls, the redesign not only improved road safety but also reduced construction costs and maintenance requirements. The technical realignment of Eagle View Drive, including updates to road alignment, profile, drainage systems, and roadside barriers, showcases PND’s commitment to delivering sustainable, cost-effective solutions that benefit the community and the environment.
PND’s expertise in engineering and design was recognized with the Engineering News-Record Northwest 2021 Best Highway/Bridge Project award, an honor that showcases PND’s dedication to advancing transportation infrastructure in Alaska, even in the face of a host of challenges.
