There is an incredible view of Cook Inlet and the distant mountains for motorists passing between Mile 153 and 154 of the Sterling Highway. But that isn't the only thing visible.

Clear to see is the narrowing strip of land between the edge of the highway and the edge of the bluff leading to the beach.

"It's measured every week," said Joselyn Biloon, planner for the Kenai and Kodiak areas with the Alaska Department of Transportation.

As of last measurement, less than 45 feet of right of way remains between the centerline and open air.

"We usually try to have 60 (feet)," Biloon said of a comfortable right of way width. "But we're losing inches by the month. We're aware of the urgency and are ramping up to do something about that."

Unfortunately, this section isn't the only one in this precarious shape. Biloon pointed to similar situations on the Glenn Highway. With no state-funded transportation program, competition for repair dollars is tight.

"We're the only state in the country with no state-funded program," Biloon said. "What we have are line-item appropriations. As you know, this capital budget was very lean. People were being very conservative with the very few resources we have. That meant that there was far less money available to do transportation projects."

Add to that a diminished flow of federal dollars.

"That impacts Alaska more heavily because we've been more reliant on them," Biloon said. "Every state is hurting because of this, but Alaska is hurting more. It's kind of the perfect storm for not getting projects done."

This section of the Sterling Highway is being added to the State Transportation Improvement Projects -- STIP -- list.

"That will start reconnaissance-level study, looking at the various options we have to respond to the erosion," Biloon said. "One option is relocating the road. We have to study what that would look like, what it would cost, where it would be, what has the least impact and is the most effective."

In addition, hearing from the public couldn't hurt.

"Letters of support would certainly help," Biloon said.

Until then, it's a matter of time and hoping the state works faster than Mother Nature.

"It's a sooner-rather-than-later thing," Biloon said. "You can see it coming, so we should plan for it. It's not going to get any better. It's not going to magically stop eroding."

Biloon can be reached at joselyn.biloon@alaska.gov.

McKibben Jackinsky can be reached at mckibbenjackinsky.@homernews.com.