Cape Blossom Road closes for second stage of project to cut Kotzebue freight costs

The state has closed the road running south from Kotzebue toward Cape Blossom for the second stage of construction on a project meant to lower freight costs for Kotzebue and nearby villages.

The road is fully closed at the old KEA gate, according to an Alaska 511 notice last updated at 7:16 am Friday. The notice gives no reopening date or alternate route.

About 5,000 tons of freight is barged into Kotzebue each year, and about 2,000 tons of that goes on to villages in the Northwest Arctic Borough, according to the Alaska Department of Transportation and Public Facilities' project page. The roughly 11-mile gravel road across the Baldwin Peninsula is designed to reach a barge landing near Cape Blossom and lower those barging costs, according to a department project information sheet.

The first stage, finished in 2024, built the road from Ted Stevens Way to the north bank of Sadie Creek. The second stage would finish the road to Cape Blossom, including a new bridge over Sadie Creek. Brice Inc. and KIC/Drake Joint Venture are the contractor. The department's 2017 permit application said construction would take at least five years, with most of the work done in winter.

The state's four-year transportation spending plan lists $53.1 million for the second stage, all programmed in 2024. About $27.7 million of that is Congressionally Delegated Spending.