Posted on 02/01/2009 5:05:12 AM PST by Loyalist
JUNEAU -- Boomers talked for decades about building a road to Nome, an epic 500-mile plus project that would run through some of the most remote wilderness of forest, tundra, rivers and valleys in the world. Now Gov. Sarah Palin, to the dismay of some state legislators, is making a push for what could be a $2 billion project.
Palin highlighted the project in her State of the State speech 10 days ago, declaring that she's pursuing a road to Nome, while in the same speech acknowledging a potential budget shortfall of more than a billion dollars. Some lawmakers are scratching their heads.
(Excerpt) Read more at adn.com ...
But seriously folks...
Western Alaska is apparently rich with minerals, maybe even oil. It could be the start of another Alaskan boom.
And who knows? Politics aside, it could even lead to one of the most daring engineering projects ever conceived: the Bering Strait bridge.
The libs will scream about how we have to protect the most remote wilderness of tundra in the world... screw developing our last frontier.
Seems like a rather pointless project at this point in time.
I’m sure that there is a large wealth of oils and minerals in western Alaska. But I just can’t see the courts and the environmentalists allowing “the destruction of the pristine environment” of western Alaska- particularly at the suggestion of someone they hate with such a passion as Governor Palin.
Roads are good. Look at Rome. Look at the railroads to the west in the United States in the mid and late 1800’s. Look at the canals to the west in the late 1700’s and the mid 1800’s. It works.
Sounds like this road is needed for future development. And I agree that it should have been built 10 years ago. AK is a natural resource mecca and it will take some very strong leadership and forward thinking from Governor Palin and some very creative financing to get it going.
It can wait or it can be a state road.
The ultimate Bridge to Nowhere.
If there was ONE piece of genuine infrastructure spending to come out of the Bankrupt America bill, this would be it. It’s a great idea.
This strengthens Palin’s image as pro-development and pro-growth. This is good.
I live in a state that actually needs the money but I have the sense to know that we can’t spend our way out of this mess. Giving money to the one state that needs it least of all is just plain stupid.
If you build it, they will come.
That sums it up nicely.
No access = no growth.
Look at the development history of Interstate exits.
I think it would be a good idea, eventually we will have a bridge crossing the Bering Strait to Russia and having a road in place would be vital to getting people and supplies there during the winter.
Many people are not aware how few roads we actually have in Alaska and that there are many many small townships out in the bush that depend on supplies by river or air.
There is a constant demand for workers in Nome but having to fly in everything is a pain, during the summer most supplies come in by sea.
That part of Alaska is rich in minerals, gold, copper and jade, we have lots of jade in Alaska, if that road was built I would outfit a class A motorhome and take with me some portable gold dredging equipment and just do some river mining in the summer.
Or set up a roadside service center for those making the road trek, any way about it building a road to Nome would be good for Alaska.
I KNOW you aren’t from Alaska and may not see the need. (unlike Michigan which is turning into a ghost state)
If an area of Alaska can be developed it needs a road to get there. Simple. We should take some Michigan roads out as they lead to dead industries anyway. Let Alaska have our road money.
They need to pave the Dalton Highway all the way to the Arctic Circle, if not to Barrow.
I’m sure you’ll enjoy all the federal puppet strings that will come with it too.
“Many people are not aware how few roads we actually have in Alaska and that there are many many small townships out in the bush that depend on supplies by river or air.”
Very important point. Alaska is not like the lower 48 when talking roads. Alaskans put up with road conditions that those of us that don’t live there would be raising holy hell about in our own communities.
Alaska, it seems could just build the road outright with their own funds. Forget the U.S. Government $$$$.
If the U.S. Government is paying to keep up Michigan roads they are wasting their money. Our roads are a mess.
What's the difference between Rome and Nome? All roads lead to Rome, but no roads lead to Nome.
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