Army Corps issues final permit for King Cove road; construction starts in 30 days

A federal permit issued July 10 clears the final regulatory hurdle for a 19-mile gravel road connecting King Cove to the all-weather airport in Cold Bay, with construction expected to begin within 30 days.

The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers issued the Clean Water Act Section 404 permit to the Alaska Department of Transportation and Public Facilities. The state said it will immediately begin mobilizing equipment and supplies and expects to begin road construction within that window.

"The King Cove Road is about safety," Anderson said. "This project will improve transportation for the community while also creating local jobs and workforce development opportunities for the people of King Cove. DOT&PF is proud to work with our community, Tribal, and federal partners to deliver this long-needed project."

For King Cove residents, the road resolves a long-standing emergency. Weather has repeatedly blocked marine crossings and flights, delaying or canceling medical evacuations. The single-lane unpaved road will give residents a ground route to Cold Bay Airport, which holds one of the longest all-weather runways in Southwest Alaska.

Land Exchange and Historic Preservation

Two agreements set the stage for the permit. In October 2025, the U.S. Department of the Interior and King Cove Corporation signed a land exchange giving the corporation 490 acres within Izembek National Wildlife Refuge for the road corridor. In return, the corporation conveyed 1,739 acres to the refuge and relinquished selection rights to an additional 5,430 acres. Earlier this week, the Army Corps, the Alaska State Historic Preservation Officer, DOT&PF, the Agdaagux Tribe of King Cove, and King Cove Corporation signed a programmatic agreement under the National Historic Preservation Act.

Legal Challenges Remain

The project has not moved without opposition. Native villages and environmental groups filed lawsuits in November 2025 challenging the legality of the land exchange. Those cases remain pending and could affect whether construction proceeds uninterrupted.