October 16, 2024

The project is substantially complete! There are a few punchlist items for contractors to finish, but as Glenn Frey said, "The Heat Is On!" In addition, the parking garage is now open for normal use again. Facilities employees will still be removing the ancillary fuel tank and some equipment from the garage, so please be cautious until it is all cleared out. Thank you for your patience!

October 11, 2024

Monday (10/14) will be a big day as striping will take place on Barnette, getting it closer to being reopened. In addition, steam should be restored to the building and the temporary heating unit will be switched off and removed. Next week, paving will also take place in the parking garage.

Thank you for your patience and we remain on track to finish work by the end of October. Remember to save parking along 7th Ave for clients and building visitors, especially when early voting begins on October 21st.

October 04, 2024

The steam pipe from Barnette to the Fairbanks Regional Office Building has been installed and passed the hydro testing. Steam heat may be able to return to the FROB as soon as next week. The intersection at Barnette and 7th Avenue is still closed, but now that the pipe repair is complete and the excavation is filled in, the paving will take place soon. Paving is weather dependent, and the contractor will have to take advantage of any remaining warm and dry weather. The intersection will be able to open shortly after paving is finished. The work in the parking garage of the FROB is ongoing and the garage is still closed.

Welding taking place on new steam pipes in the parking garage of the Fairbanks Regional Office Building.

Subsurface work in the intersection of Barnette and 7th Ave is completed and the excavation area has been filled.

September 23, 2024

Thank you for your patience while the steam line is repaired to the Fairbanks Regional Office Building. So far, work is proceeding on schedule. The excavation of 7th and Barnette and pipe installation has begun. In the parking garage, crews have started excavation and removing the old pipes.

Thank you as well for parking away from the front of the building and keeping that area available for clients and visitors. We’re on pace to finish by the end of October!

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September 6, 2024

Starting the week of September 9th, construction will begin at the intersection of Barnette and 7th Ave to repair the steam line to the Fairbanks Regional Office Building and get the heat squared away for winter.

As you know, earlier this year, there was a breakage and leak that required the temporary installment of an external boiler that’s been taking up residence in the parking garage. This work will repair the steam line and nearby utilities and reconnect them to the primary boiler in the FROB and is expected to take about two months until the end of October.

Detours

During construction, Barnette will be closed between 6th and 8th Ave. 7th Avenue will also be closed between Barnette and Goldie’s. Detours will be posted.

Parking

The 7th Ave closure will block the entrance to the FROB Parking Garage and the garage will remain closed during construction. Parking will be available in the UAF parking garage and access will remain open to that garage from Barnette. 8th Avenue will also be available for parking.

Please leave parking on 7th Avenue clear for clients and visitors to continue to use, in particular the handicapped spaces near the Northeast Entrance.

Closure and alternate parking diagram for Fall 2024 construction at the Fairbanks Regional Office Building

Internal Air Quality

On April 1st, 2024, the Alaska Department of Transportation & Public Facilities (DOT&PF) was notified of a chemical odor in the FROB building. After investigation, it was determined that the odor was caused by an underground steam leak. Aurora Energy, which supplies steam to the facility, uses a common corrosion inhibitor called Tri-ACT in their system. Following consultation with Aurora Energy and Beacon, an industrial hygiene company, DOT&PF Safety representatives confirmed that the level of Tri-ACT in the air was well below the permissible exposure limit (PEL).

 

Recognizing that individuals may have varying sensitivities to unfamiliar smells, and out of an abundance of caution, the decision was made to close the building temporarily until a temporary ventilation system could be installed. Comprehensive air testing for Tri-ACT was conducted, which confirmed that two of the three chemicals in Tri-ACT were below detectable levels, and the third chemical was present at levels far below the PEL.