Federal grants fund $2.4 million in Nome-Council Highway Merbok repairs

Three stretches of the Nome-Council Highway damaged by ex-typhoon Merbok in 2022 are now funded for permanent repair. The Federal Highway Administration granted the Alaska Department of Transportation and Public Facilities $2,417,398, with all three awards running through April 1, 2028. The money comes through the agency's Emergency Relief program for disaster-damaged highways.

The largest award, $1,086,913, covers mileposts 9 to 11 for road reconstruction and drainage improvements. A $697,362 award covers reconstruction between mileposts 4 and 5. A third, $633,123, covers mileposts 14.2 to 14.7 and adds armor stone to roadway reconstruction. Each is tied to a Federal Highway Administration Detailed Damage Inspection Report documenting damage from the September 2022 storm, numbered AK2022-02-03, AK2022-02-02 and AK2022-02-05.

A non-federal match of $239,960 brings the three projects to $2,657,358.

Ex-typhoon Merbok struck western Alaska, affecting 1,300 miles of coastline and 40 communities, according to the Alaska Center for Climate Assessment and Preparedness. The center's account records heavy losses to subsistence infrastructure and destroyed homes.

Gov. Mike Dunleavy declared a state disaster emergency on Sept. 17, 2022. President Biden approved a federal declaration six days later. FEMA has since approved $6.8 million for 873 households under its Individual and Households Program and obligated $90.9 million in public assistance, most of it permanent work on roads, buildings and utilities. That money is separate from these highway grants.

DOT&PF lists the repairs among its continuing Northern Region projects for 2026. Al Beck of DOT&PF said in a December 2025 scheduling update that the milepost 9-11 project bundles two other storm-damaged locations tied to the 2022 storm, with advertising targeted for April.