Projects Scope – Repaving of Meals Avenue from Pioneer Drive to Robe River Drive. Plus, paving of Robe River Drive to the entrance of the Valdez High School parking lot. Other work will include new sidewalks/bike paths, drainage improvements, new fire hydrants and new streetlights.
Project Timeline – Staging operations will begin May 18, 2026. Construction will begin May 28, 2026. Substantial completion date for all construction is October 31, 2026. Paving completion date is September 15, 2026.
Construction Phasing Plan – The contractor will begin demolition of the existing roadway and infrastructure on Robe Rive Drive in front of the student parking lot entrance at the Valdez High School. They will demo the roadway, install new infrastructure and prep roadway for pavement before moving to the next phase. Each phase will be anywhere between 100 and 200 feet in distance. The phasing will continue east towards Meals Avenue then turn south down Meals Avenue until the project ends at Pioneer Drive.
Traffic Control – The contractor is required to keep one lane of traffic to all residents and business throughout the entire project unless a detour is put in place. Expect flaggers and traffic control signage to be in place around each construction phase area. The public will need to stay aware of any traffic control measures in place and follow them accordingly. A temporary road detour will be put in place along the east side of Barney Meyring Park strip
south of PWS College. There will not be a temporary road detour installed on the north end of Barney Meyring Park strip and will not affect any events such as the Ren Fair. Barricades will also be in places at the end of Foraker Street, Gulkana Street, and Eklutna Street to deter vehicles from crossing the park strip.
– Access to PVMC on Meals Avenue will remain the same. One of the two entrance points will always be open to traffic. No detour is expected currently.
Impact to Businesses and Residential Areas – This project will affect the traffic pattern to these businesses in the area: Safeway, Arts Design, KVAK Radio, Arctic Chiropractic, Northern Treats, Foothills Dentistry, Jehovah Witnesses Church, Chena RV Park, Church of Latter Day Saints, City of Valdez Dog Park, Community garden, Providence Valdez Medical Center and Clinic, Valdez Senior Housing building, Valdez Senior Center, and Valdez High School.
The project will also affect access to these residential streets: Atlatna Street, Bremner Street, Chena Street, Dadina Street, Eklutna Street, Foraker Street, Gulkana Street, Hanagita Street, and Robe Rive Drive.
Trash pickup and bus routes will remain the same.
The city will provide weekly updates to notify the public of these traffic pattern changes during construction.