Bogard Road getting major pavement fixes for first time since 2007

What you need to know:

• A major resurfacing project is underway along a nine-mile stretch of Bogard Road in Wasilla – the first such repair in nearly 20 years.
• Most work will take place between 7 p.m. and 6 a.m. to avoid daytime traffic disruptions. Pilot cars will assist during overnight lane closures.
• The $11.5 million project includes pavement resurfacing, culvert repairs, utility upgrades and ADA-compliant sidewalk improvements. It does not include road widening, new bike paths or a planned roundabout at the intersection of Bogard and Engstrom roads.

WASILLA — A major paving project along Bogard Road will cause intermittent overnight traffic delays this summer as crews make repairs along the deeply rutted roadway for the first time in nearly two decades.

The about nine-mile project stretches between the Trunk Road roundabout and Main Street in Wasilla and includes pavement resurfacing, culvert fixes, a series of disability-accessible sidewalk upgrades, and some utility work, state transportation officials said. Construction is expected to last through early August, with most paving scheduled between now and the end of July, they said.

More than 10,000 vehicles travel the road each day, according to state traffic data. The road was last resurfaced in 2007, officials said.

Bogard Road and its connecting streets and driveways will be stripped to gravel and repaved in sections, with the specific locations and timing depending on contractor availability, said Todd Smith, a state transportation engineer overseeing the project.

[A long-term access plan could dramatically reshape traffic along the Bogard-Seldon corridor]

The most disruptive work will occur overnight between 7 p.m. and 6 a.m. to reduce daytime traffic delays, he said. Pilot cars will be used during most lane closures, and work will pause over holiday weekends, including Memorial Day, he said.

An initial one-mile stretch between Cottonwood Loop near the Bogard-Seldon roundabout and Earl Drive was milled last week and repaved over Saturday and Sunday nights, Smith said. Final paving on the driveways and side streets connected to that stretch is slated for completion early this week, he said.

Crews will next tackle a roughly half-mile section from Earl to Lagoon Drive near AK Storage Centers, he said. They are also conducting prep work on culverts, sidewalks and utilities at the Trunk-Bogard roundabout, at Main Street, and at several other sections along the roadway, he said.

Smith, who lives nearby and regularly travels the road, said the resurfacing effort hits especially close to home because he also worked on the 2007 version of the project.

“There’s a lot more growth, a lot more business, a lot more residential, more schools, more everything,” he said. “Obviously, that brings more traffic. It’s a lot different than it was in 2007.”

The $11.5 million project does not include widening or new bike paths, which are part of a separate effort that has not yet been scheduled, officials said.

It also does not include the construction of a new roundabout at the intersection of Bogard and Engstrom roads, said Chris Bentz, a state transportation district chief for the Mat-Su region. That project is targeted for completion next year, but whether it can be finished by then depends on how quickly the state can purchase the necessary properties, he said.

“As we move through the summer in attempting to acquire needed properties, we will know better if that remains realistic or not,” Bentz said.

-- Contact Amy Bushatz at contact@matsusentinel.com