Sterling Highway Project

Sterling Highway Map of Wildlife Report Locations (pdf)

The Alaska Department of Transportation and Public Facilities plans to reconstruct the Sterling Highway between mileposts 58 and 79. Milepost 58 to milepost 76 runs through the middle of the Kenai National Wildlife Refuge and is one of the highest moose-vehicle collision areas for a rural highway in the state. An interagency team is working on reducing the hazards to wildlife and motorists as well as maintaining habitat connectivity for wildlife. The team includes representatives from Alaska Departments of Transportation & Public Facilities, Fish & Game, and Public Safety; as well as Federal Highway Administration, Alaska Moose Federation and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.

The purpose of the project is to gather pre-construction information on where moose and other wildlife are crossing the highway, where wildlife-vehicle collisions are occurring, and where the motoring public is seeing wildlife as they drive this section of highway. This data will be analyzed and used to plan for a safer roadway to be constructed. The team will look at using structures such as overpasses and underpasses (wildlife crossings), signs that warn motorists when animals are on or near the road (infra-red, laser activated), fencing, and a host of other techniques, methods, structures or devices that will make the highway safer.

The team would appreciate the help of the motoring public when traveling through the refuge. New milepost markers have been posted locating half mile segments of highway. Two new signs at both ends of the project warn motorists of the “HIGH WILDLIFE CROSSING AREA” with a Wildlife Hotline phone number 262-2300. Motorists who see moose or other wildlife on or along the road are encouraged to report the sighting. We need the following information: type of animal (moose, black bear, wolf, etc.), how many (moose cow and calf, or black bear sow with 2 cubs), date, time, and between which milepost markers you observed the animal or animals (between milepost markers 67 and 66.5).

This information will be plotted on a map of the Sterling Highway and updated monthly on our website. Thank you for your help.