Alaska West Coast Resiliency Projects (Grant Overview)
Alaska West Coast Resiliency Projects (Grant Overview)
This project is responsive to incredible damage experienced by rural and disadvantaged communities in Western Alaska as a result of Typhoon Merbok. DOT&PF has led an intense coordinative effort with the Federal Emergency Management Association (FEMA) and other federal partners, as well as with coastal communities, not just to assess damage and plan for repair, but to identify ways in which resilience can be improved. This PROTECT project will be crucial to improving the condition of these communities and for them to better withstand natural hazards and changing climate conditions.
Project elements are all considered to improve resiliency beyond pre-storm damage, utilizing best practices and relevant nature-based solutions.
• Elim - 1) The project focuses on raising Front Street and hardening it for long-term durability, including above 100-year storm levels. Reconstruction of the road, including the repair and replacement of drainage structures, guardrails, and roadside hardware.
• Golovin – The project will improve the rebuilt berm road by placing rock along the berm; the improved road will provide further protection for the community from future storms.
• Shaktoolik – The project will upgrade the seawall to provide protection against a 100-year event; this includes an estimated 600,000 tons of imported rock in various sizes that will be placed along berm.
• Koyuk – 1) Remove and replace damaged, existing storm drain system including cross culverts to ensure appropriate capacity and design parameters. Complete finish grading and top course of aggregate base course surfacing material. Driveway surface materials need replacement within the ROW. Driveway culverts require end section replacement at locations that have been damaged or the end section is missing. Riprap at cross culverts and driveway culverts. Seawall at the community store requires rip rap replacement. 2) Reconstruct pad and barge landing area to pre-disaster conditions. 3) Reconstruction of the road, assuming 18’top width, 2:1 side slopes.
• Hooper Bay – 1) For the majority of road improvements, raise the grade for approximately four feet, use riprap to prevent erosion on the seaward side, and resurface roadway. If grade is raised install culverts as needed with gates to prevent backflow from flooding homes. Reconstructing the road this way creates a revetment of levee to protect homes, utilities, and infrastructure landward side of road. The road will minimize future bluff erosion. 2) For some portions of the road, raise the grade for approximately 1-2 feet, extend riprap to prevent erosion on the seaward side, and resurface the roadway.