Early construction work causes two-hour delays on Palmer commute

Construction crews starting work at 6 a.m. on April 23 created severe delays for Palmer commuters. Some drivers reported trips to work stretched to two hours. The Alaska Department of Transportation has not announced when the work will end.

Curt McCormick, a Palmer-area resident, posted on social media that alternating lane closures during the morning rush turned his usual commute into a two-hour crawl. The construction work began at 6 a.m., putting crews on the road just as early-shift workers headed out.

The Alaska Department of Transportation's 511 system showed construction delays on highways around Palmer that morning. This included sections of the Parks and Glenn highways near the Mat-Su Valley community.

Palmer sits at the junction of the Glenn Highway, which connects Anchorage to the Interior, and the Old Glenn Highway. The community of about 7,000 people serves as a bedroom community for workers commuting to Wasilla and Anchorage, 42 miles southwest.

Construction season in Alaska typically runs from late April through October. Crews often start early to maximize daylight hours and complete projects before winter returns.

The timing of the work coincided with the start of the morning commute for many Mat-Su Valley workers. First shifts at businesses in Wasilla and Anchorage often begin between 7 and 8 a.m.

No emergency closures or accidents were reported in connection with the construction work. The delays appeared to result from standard lane alternating procedures, where traffic takes turns using a single lane while crews work in the other.

The Alaska Department of Transportation has not issued a public statement about the construction schedule or expected duration of the work.

Mat-Su Valley residents can check current road conditions and construction zones at 511.alaska.gov or by calling 511 from any phone in Alaska.