4 ms·

Looking at google maps, there's a ferry about 30 mile ride on the water. I don't know the route they're proposing, but maybe 60 miles over mountains. Ugh. The

by jfoutz 4y ago

Looking at google maps, there's a ferry about 30 mile ride on the water. I don't know the route they're proposing, but maybe 60 miles over mountains. Ugh. The ambulance isn't going to be going 60 over washboard roads. The good people of Alaska can do whatever they want, but if the concern is medical emergencies, they should seriously consider keeping a plane at the airport, illuminate the airport, and make sure the runway stays plowed. Anchorage is about 900 miles away. A helicopter ride over to cold bay, then on a plane to Anchorage might be easier if they can keep a pilots on hand. Actually there's a bunch of really small, really remote communities up there. helicopter service to cold bay, plane to the trauma center might be a really good plan.

macinjosh 4y ago
We built an interstate across an entire mountain range. Just because a road goes over a mountain does mean it can’t be easily possible at highway speeds.
- jfoutz 4y ago
  Well, sure. but they're looking to put in a gravel road. king cove, population 757. I think you'd want a road grader to start, I don't see a quarry on the map, but maybe there's one near by. You could also move a rock crusher up there. I mean, it's fine, but gravel roads are kind of a pain. you have to keep adding more, year after year. I mean, you could pave it, but asphalt doesn't like freezing and thawing over and over. But sure, a good road could be built. If they're concerned about emergency services - Anchorage seems like the closest trauma center. 900 miles away. Maintain the airport and keep a plane there. Screwing around with an hour drive before getting to a plane seems like the kind of plan that won't really help much if you need emergency services.
  - Retric 4y ago
    They want to connect to an all weather airport which would let them get to the trauma center more quickly and of course do other stuff. The issue isn’t this specific road, it’s every other time someone wants to go through a wildlife refuge.
tastyfreeze 4y ago
The people of Alaska can't actually do what they want. Every attempt to develop resources is stopped by people that dont live in the state screaming about protecting the wilderness.
- lovich 4y ago
  It’s a national park paid for with national tax dollars. The Alaskans don’t have a greater claim to it due to their proximity. What they actually want to do is use our property to support their lifestyle. It should not be surprising that others have a problem with that
scythe 4y ago
Looking at Google Maps, it seems to be completely unnecessary to go through the INWR. The road could simply go one mile to the northwest, which isn't part of the refuge. I must be reading it wrong? Also, you could make the ferry ride about half as long if you start on the other side of the peninsula from King Cove (only need two miles of road!). Congress wrote a review in 2015 that assessed the possibilities for a helicopter and a ferry: https://www.energy.senate.gov/services/files/D8EA08E9-75F1-4D79-A833-87EE91616819 https://www.energy.senate.gov/services/files/D8EA08E9-75F1-4...
CircleSpokes 4y ago
>The good people of Alaska can do whatever they want, but if the concern is medical emergencies, they should seriously consider keeping a plane at the airport, illuminate the airport, and make sure the runway stays plowed. Anchorage is about 900 miles away. A helicopter ride over to cold bay, then on a plane to Anchorage might be easier if they can keep a pilots on hand. The issue is they can't get there.. the airport is already all weather.
- jfoutz 4y ago
  I was unclear. Make the airport in king cove all weather. 4 miles out of town.
  - Retric 4y ago
    That’s vastly more expensive than the road. But this court case has also strayed well past being just about this specific road.
    - jfoutz 4y ago
      Is it? Lights, transponders, and equipment to keep the runway free from snow. let's assume $5.00/sq ft to lay down gravel - 5280 ft/mi * 60mi * 10ft wide road is about 3 million. That's pretty generous given the remote location, need to ship the heavy equipment. I really don't know, but you could dodge a lot of lawsuits and shave an hour off of time to trauma center. Which, as I understand it, is the real goal. get hurt people to treatment as quickly as possible.
      - deleted 4y ago
        [deleted]
      - Retric 4y ago
        They would also need to seriously improve the runway to land in extreme wind conditions not just add ILS equipment. I don’t know what exactly is needed, but a single short gravel runway is a long way from being sufficient. Next is the question of maintenance, if you actually want to save an hour the runway would need to be kept clear 24/7 which is expensive. Alternatively, they can start clearing the runway after the emergency which costs less money but more time. On the other hand a gravel road should be passable via off-road vehicle or snowmobile with minimal effort. Over say 30 years the road might be the clear winner.
tastyfreeze 4y ago
That ferry route is serviced by the Alaska Marine Highway System at most once a week during the summer. But, it is a whistle stop. The ferry only stops if there are reservations.

by jfoutz 4y ago

macinjosh 4y ago

We built an interstate across an entire mountain range. Just because a road goes over a mountain does mean it can’t be easily possible at highway speeds.

jfoutz 4y ago
Well, sure. but they're looking to put in a gravel road. king cove, population 757. I think you'd want a road grader to start, I don't see a quarry on the map, but maybe there's one near by. You could also move a rock crusher up there. I mean, it's fine, but gravel roads are kind of a pain. you have to keep adding more, year after year. I mean, you could pave it, but asphalt doesn't like freezing and thawing over and over. But sure, a good road could be built. If they're concerned about emergency services - Anchorage seems like the closest trauma center. 900 miles away. Maintain the airport and keep a plane there. Screwing around with an hour drive before getting to a plane seems like the kind of plan that won't really help much if you need emergency services.
- Retric 4y ago
  They want to connect to an all weather airport which would let them get to the trauma center more quickly and of course do other stuff. The issue isn’t this specific road, it’s every other time someone wants to go through a wildlife refuge.

tastyfreeze 4y ago

The people of Alaska can't actually do what they want. Every attempt to develop resources is stopped by people that dont live in the state screaming about protecting the wilderness.

lovich 4y ago
It’s a national park paid for with national tax dollars. The Alaskans don’t have a greater claim to it due to their proximity. What they actually want to do is use our property to support their lifestyle. It should not be surprising that others have a problem with that

scythe 4y ago

Looking at Google Maps, it seems to be completely unnecessary to go through the INWR. The road could simply go one mile to the northwest, which isn't part of the refuge. I must be reading it wrong? Also, you could make the ferry ride about half as long if you start on the other side of the peninsula from King Cove (only need two miles of road!). Congress wrote a review in 2015 that assessed the possibilities for a helicopter and a ferry: https://www.energy.senate.gov/services/files/D8EA08E9-75F1-4D79-A833-87EE91616819 https://www.energy.senate.gov/services/files/D8EA08E9-75F1-4...

CircleSpokes 4y ago

>The good people of Alaska can do whatever they want, but if the concern is medical emergencies, they should seriously consider keeping a plane at the airport, illuminate the airport, and make sure the runway stays plowed. Anchorage is about 900 miles away. A helicopter ride over to cold bay, then on a plane to Anchorage might be easier if they can keep a pilots on hand. The issue is they can't get there.. the airport is already all weather.

jfoutz 4y ago
I was unclear. Make the airport in king cove all weather. 4 miles out of town.
- Retric 4y ago
  That’s vastly more expensive than the road. But this court case has also strayed well past being just about this specific road.
  - jfoutz 4y ago
    Is it? Lights, transponders, and equipment to keep the runway free from snow. let's assume $5.00/sq ft to lay down gravel - 5280 ft/mi * 60mi * 10ft wide road is about 3 million. That's pretty generous given the remote location, need to ship the heavy equipment. I really don't know, but you could dodge a lot of lawsuits and shave an hour off of time to trauma center. Which, as I understand it, is the real goal. get hurt people to treatment as quickly as possible.
    - deleted 4y ago
      [deleted]
    - Retric 4y ago
      They would also need to seriously improve the runway to land in extreme wind conditions not just add ILS equipment. I don’t know what exactly is needed, but a single short gravel runway is a long way from being sufficient. Next is the question of maintenance, if you actually want to save an hour the runway would need to be kept clear 24/7 which is expensive. Alternatively, they can start clearing the runway after the emergency which costs less money but more time. On the other hand a gravel road should be passable via off-road vehicle or snowmobile with minimal effort. Over say 30 years the road might be the clear winner.

tastyfreeze 4y ago

That ferry route is serviced by the Alaska Marine Highway System at most once a week during the summer. But, it is a whistle stop. The ferry only stops if there are reservations.