42nd Avenue Upgrade

This is a virtual self-guided tour for you to learn more about the Municipality of Anchorage's (MOA) 42nd Avenue Upgrade project.

This tour will cover:

1. Project Scope & Background
2. Project Schedule
3. Existing Conditions
4. Draft Design Study Report
5. Preferred Alternative 1

If you have any questions or comments, there are a few ways for you to get in touch with the project team at the end of the tour. This tour should take about 10-15 minutes to scroll through.

The MOA is planning to upgrade E. 42nd Avenue between Lake Otis Parkway and Florina Street to meet current MOA Design Criteria for a local roadway and to replace the existing water main from Lake Otis Parkway to Piper Street.

Improvements are expected to include:

• New road foundation
• New asphalt pavement
• New storm drain system
• New pedestrian facilities
• Improved street lighting
• 3,000 feet of water main replacement

The existing roadway is narrow with gravel shoulders in many areas, no pedestrian facilities, and discontinuous storm drain and lighting infrastructure. Numerous breaks in the existing cast iron water main indicates that it needs to be replaced.

The University Area Community Council has listed 42nd Avenue as its highest-priority project for many years and it is also listed in the 2016 U-Med District Plan as a roadway in need of improvement.

The project is funded through the design study phase. No funding for design or construction has been received at this time.

Existing ROW width:

• 66 feet from Lake Otis Parkway to Piper St.
• 60 feet from Piper St. to Florina St.

Posted speed limit: 25 mph

Typically strip paved roadway with no curb and gutter except for east of Dale St., with no pedestrian facilities except for at Folker Park.

The existing conditions of 42nd Avenue roadway pavement in the project area includes significant asphalt cracks and potholes. The road shoulders also contain potholes in many locations due to the lack of adequate drainage infrastructure.

The Draft Design Study Report was published in June 2020. You can read the  full report here . The DSR evaluates existing and future conditions and a range of conceptual design alternatives.

The Draft DSR recommends Alternative 1 as the preferred alternative since it balances the needs of the various segments of roadway. Alternative 1 will be discussed in more detail later in the virtual tour.

Other proposed improvements in the Draft DSR include:

• Insulated roadway base and asphalt pavement
• Piped drainage system
• Pedestrian facilities on both sides of the roadway
• Traffic calming and pedestrian safety upgrades
• Street lighting
• 3,000 feet of water main replacement from Lake Otis Parkway to Piper Street
• Utility relocation as required for improvements

Flip through the slideshow below to see the cross sections and design plans for each segment of the project area. There are four distinct segments. Use the legend to better understand the design alternatives.

The Final DSR will incorporate comments from stakeholders and then be routed for signatures and approval by MOA agencies (PM&E and Traffic).

• Start design in April 2021 pending roadway bond approval
• Implement preferred alternative from DSR
• Additional public meetings after 65% complete and 95% complete designs

• Email comments and questions to  holly@huddleak.com 
• Attend the monthly University Area Community Council meeting.
• Sign up for  email updates .
• Check the  project website  periodically for updates.