Officials inspect completed Zimovia Highway

Apart from a few minor road sign adjustments, the Zimovia Highway renovation is completed, according to state transportation officials.

Officials from the Alaska Department of Transportation & Public Facilities drove the 13.4-mile stretch of highway Friday as part of the final inspection, during which the contractor presents the nearly completed results to the state. The $9.9-million project primarily entailed resurfacing Zimovia Highway from near the Wrangell Public Safety Building to the very end, and replacing 30 of the hundreds of culverts along the highway’s edge.

“To me, the final inspection is to acknowledge the crew’s hard work for us, and if there are any remaining problems, to address those,” said Tim Dudley, general manager for Juneau-based SECON construction.

SECON has employed as many as 40 people working on the road at any one point, Dudley said.

State officials are largely happy with the end result of the project, said project manager John Kajdan.

“It’s definitely been a successful project,” he said.

Design for the project started in May, prior to the June 6 start of construction, said Steve Mielke, the project engineer.

The transportation department is also currently evaluating resurfacing Evergreen Avenue, as well as the Airport Apron and Taxiway for future projects.