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Alaska Department of Transportation and Public Facilities

NORTHERN REGION
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Chena Hot Springs Road Improvements
Project No. 0650(026)/63467 & 0650(029)/NFHWY00289

Project area

The DOT&PF seeks to improve safety and mobility and to reduce annual pavement maintenance costs through the construction of two roundabouts at the intersection of the Steese Highway and Chena Hot Springs Road (CHSR) and by rehabilitating milepost (MP) 0-6 of CHSR from the Old Steese Highway to Nordale Road in Fairbanks.

After careful consideration of comments received through public involvement, examining the results of telephone surveys, and incorporating feedback into the project design, DOT&PF moved forward with the construction of the Steese/CHSR roundabouts and roadway surface rehabilitation on CHSR from MP 0-6 (Old Steese to Nordale). Construction of the roundabouts was completed in 2020. Rehabilitation of miles 0-6 is scheduled to be completed in 2023.

Project area roundabouts Click here for PDF file

Project Objectives

    • Improve Safety
      • National studies show that intersections converted to roundabouts reduce fatalities by an average of 90% and reduce crashes that cause injury by an average of 76%.
      • Local roundabout conversions support the national statistics. In the 10 years since roundabouts were built in North Pole, there have been zero injury crashes and a 68% reduction in overall crashes.
      • Reduced grades on CHSR at the intersection and flattening crest curves will improve sight distance and ease of travel through intersection

    • Improve Mobility
      • 8,000 vehicles travel through the intersection at the Steese Highway and CHSR every day. 4,000 more vehicles travel on CHSR through Nordale Road. That volume is expected to grow with the development of North Pole and Northeast Fairbanks, which will increase congestion. Roundabouts offer the least amount of delay compared to stop-controlled intersections and traffic signals.
      • The east roundabout will be have a bypass lane for northbound Steese Highway traffic to turn eastbound on CHSR, completely bypassing the roundabouts.
      • Rehabilitating the roadway will allow for more comprehensive repairs to the frost heaves, making for a smoother driving surface from Nordale Road to the Steese Highway. In addition, the Old Steese Highway intersection will be paved from W. Division St to Swan Lane, including a short section of improvement where Swan Lane (US Post Office access road) intersects the Old Steese Highway.

Project area west end

What to expect in 2023

Construction is mostly complete, but we have a little work left for 2023. We’ll be installing High Friction Surface Treatment at the roundabouts; this is a durable surface that provides better traction for vehicles. This is a sensitive material, so we’re going to take a lot of caution installing it. Expect traffic patten changes and flaggers while we work on this mid-summer for a couple days, this will include short closures on some of the ramps that go in and out of the roundabouts. Other than that, you might see us working on the side of the road through the summer to address some unfinished work, so keep an eye out for constructions signs and crews when you’re driving.


Contractor Exclusive Paving excavates in preparation for constructing the roundabouts bypass lane
in the summer of 2020. Photo by DOT&PF staff.