3.0 Affected Environment - Knik Arm Bridge and Toll Authority

Knik Arm Crossing DraftFinal EIS
Affected Environment
including abandoned trading routes, old mining routes, and logging roads, are now used for
recreation. Figure 3.13 shows trails within the Study Area. The Iditarod Trail, now a National
Historic Trail, started as a mail and supply route from the coastal towns of Seward and Knik
to the Interior Alaska mining camps. A portion of the Iditarod Trail from Wasilla to Knik
enters the Study Area south of Wasilla and parallels Knik-Goose Bay Road.
3.2.2.5.2 Anchorage
Existing facilities
The Anchorage trail system offers more than 400 miles of trails. The trails offer a
recreational and transportation opportunity to all residents. Within the Study Area, the Ship
Creek Trail runs along Ship Creek, through the Alaska Railroad rail yard. The Municipality
of Anchorage began an expansion of the trail through the Ship Creek area in 1999,
constructing a pathway from the CEA Dam to Post Road. Over the intervening years,
construction of the trail has continued in segments, with a tunnel built under Post Road and
an extension to William Tyson School in Mountain View. At its west end, the trail was
constructed from North C Street, east to a bridge over Ship Creek. Pedestrians and bicycles
are accommodated on most local roads in the Anchorage portion of the Study Area and on
the A-C Viaduct.
Planned improvements
To avoid an at-grade crossing of the mainline Alaska Railroad track, a concept is being
explored to route the trail on fill across the tidal flats, thereby creating a marsh with elevated
boardwalks for viewing areas.
According to the design study report (Corps of Engineers January 2006), the Port of
Anchorage Marsh Project came out of the ARRC's Ship Creek Development Master Plan,
which included the concept of creating a vegetated marsh area behind an extension of the
Tony Knowles Coastal Trail, along the Anchorage shoreline south of the existing public boat
launch ramp at Ship Creek Point. The trail is currently in the project development process.
The Ship Creek Fishing Access project is part of the Municipality’s “Salmon in the City”
initiative focused on sustaining the fishing experience near downtown Anchorage. Salmon
restoration funds were used to remove the existing culverts and channel obstructions and to
restore the open channel habitat, improve fish passage in Ship Creek and angler safety.
Additional improvements will provide safe public access to this heavily used creek, while
rejuvenating and rehabilitating critical stream banks.
Page 3-56 12/18/07