The West Susitna Access Road Project is part of our Team Alaska approach - bringing together local expertise, tribal partners, field crews, and agency staff to move forward with purpose and respect.
The West Susitna Access Road (WestSu Access) project is a proposed approximately 22-mile gravel road expanding outdoor recreation and economic opportunities for Southcentral Alaska. The Alaska Department of Transportation & Public Facilities (DOT&PF) envisions delivering a new frontier road that unlocks public access to over 6 million acres of State lands west of the Susitna River. This road would extend from the existing highway system and include bridges across waterways such as the Susitna River, as well as boat launches for river access.
A frontier road in Alaska is a remote, low-traffic route that provides essential access to communities, recreation areas, and resource lands. These roads are often unpaved, have limited services, and face unique challenges from weather, permafrost, and long distances between towns. Maintenance is seasonal and conditions can change quickly, but these corridors remain vital for travel, subsistence, and connecting Alaskans to some of the state’s most rugged and beautiful places.
The key to our success working alongside DOT&PF has been communication - showing interest in our respective roles brings the team together. I have a lot of respect for the crew out here.
-Lori Hansen, Archeologist
The key to our success working alongside DOT&PF has been communication - showing interest in our respective roles brings the team together. I have a lot of respect for the crew out here.
-Lori Hansen, Archeologist
DOT&PF is working closely with Tribal governments and ANCSA corporations throughout the West Susitna Access Road project to ensure cultural resources are identified, respected, and protected. Through early consultation, collaborative research, Tribal participation in fieldwork and monitoring, and clear protocols for sensitive discoveries, DOT&PF is committed to a transparent and inclusive Section 106 process that honors Tribal knowledge and supports shared decision-making from project development through construction.
By improving access to rivers, wetlands, and forested uplands, the project would support fishing, boating, berry picking, wildlife viewing, hunting, and year-round outdoor adventure. The proposed design includes pullouts, river crossings, and a new boat launch on the Susitna River, offering a future access point for exploring nearby streams, lakes, and trail corridors. This boat launch would make it easier for boaters, subsistence users, and families to reach prime fishing areas and river-based recreation. Altogether, the proposed improvements are intended to expand public access to some of Southcentral Alaska’s most scenic and remote landscapes while supporting responsible, low-impact recreation.
DOT&PF has completed and continues to do extensive environmental research to better understand the landscape, waterways, wildlife, and cultural resources within this project. These studies help ensure the project is designed and executed responsibly, avoids or minimizes impacts, and meets state and federal environmental standards. Field teams, specialists, and Tribal partners are gathering detailed information about soils, hydrology, wetlands, habitats, archaeological resources, and more. This work informs design decisions, supports permitting, and guides efforts to protect sensitive areas throughout planning and potential construction.
