Parks Highway MP 44.5-48.8 Reconstruction

Project Details: Knik helped trailblaze a new alignment on the Park Highway between MP 44.5-48.8, Church Road to Pittman Road in Wasilla, Alaska. This project improved an existing two-lane connected highway, transforming it into a four-lane split highway with intersections spaced every half mile. First, Knik crews had to construct a new northbound alignment parallel to the existing highway. This project included the construction of a new bridge parallel to the existing Alaska R-1 railroad overpass involving one of the largest lifts in Alaska history. Instead of setting each individual girder, the girders were all assembled at once then lifted into place via the largest crane in Alaska.

Knik also reconstructed or relocated all existing frontage roads and pedestrian pathways throughout the length of the project. The traffic signals were improved at Parks and Stanley intersection, Parks and Vine intersection, and the Park and Pittman intersection. Upgrades to the signage, striping, and guardrail were performed along this stretch of the Parks Highway as well.

On this multi-season project, Knik excavated 580,000 cubic yards of material, placed 8,500 linear feet of various sized culverts, placed 47 various types of drainage structures, hauled and placed 960,000 tons of sub base, 54,000 tons of base course, and 71,000 tons of hot mix asphalt to create the new highway alignment. Knik also employed 7 trainees on the project.