Cordova official asks residents to press state for full 2027 funding of two road projects

Cordova Public Works Director Kevin Johnson asked residents and City Council members Wednesday to press the state to fully fund two city road projects in 2027.

The projects, Second Street reconstruction and Whitshed Road pedestrian improvements, are in the Alaska Department of Transportation's draft Statewide Transportation Improvement Program, the state's four-year list of federally funded transportation projects. The draft lists about $13 million for Second Street and $14.8 million for Whitshed Road in 2027.

Johnson told the council that is not full funding. Second Street is almost fully funded, he said, while a larger gap remains for Whitshed Road.

Both projects are fully designed. Whitshed Road has gone to bid and a contractor has been selected. Second Street is set to go to bid in December, pending federal highway approval. Johnson said both are ready to start in spring 2027.

A delay would raise project costs and the city's local share, he said. "As we all know, the longer you wait to fund a project and push it down the road, the more those projects increase in cost," Johnson said.

He said state staff are very willing to fund both projects. "They just need that little extra nudge," he said.

Comments are due by 5 pm Oct. 29 through the department's online comment form.