Residents who turned out for Saturday’s bald eagle release at 19 Mile drove on plowed roads, but they shouldn’t expect such service on weekends this winter, local Department of Transportation foreman Matt Boron said this week.
Reiterating a notice by DOT earlier this year, Boron said he’s been instructed by higher-ups to not authorize overtime, but he’s allowed some discretion to step outside that directive, which he used Saturday.
“I felt that because of the eagle festival, and that the snow was literally a foot deep, that was justifiable. I’m going to do everything I can do.” A ferry docking Sunday also factored into his decision, Boron said.
Boron said his discretion applies only to “Level 2” priorities, which include Haines Highway between the ferry terminal and Canada border, Main Street and the Haines airport. “Other than that, the public shouldn’t expect to see us on weekends or after hours,” Boron said.
On Saturday, because crews had time left over from a four-hour minimum call-out, they also plowed Small Tracts Road.
He said residents should expect no weekend service on “Level 4” state roads. They include Small Tracts, Mud Bay, Menaker, Beach, Allen, Mosquito Lake and Piedad roads.
An October press release from DOT defined “Level 3” roads as including Lutak Road, Front Street, Klukwan Road, and the Airport Spur Road.
To see a list of winter maintenance road rankings, go to http://www.dot.alaska.gov/wintermap.