Alaska Department of Transportation and Public Facilities and state contractors have successfully repaired and re-graveled the southbound lane of Homer Spit Road, which previously incurred significant damage from the Nov. 16 storm surge. Both lanes are now open to vehicular traffic, though drivers are still advised to exercise caution and be aware of closed shoulders, reduced speeds and traffic controls, pavement breaks and gravel sections on the road.
DOT and state contractors also completed the temporary repairs to the 0.8-mile stretch of armor rock that was breached by the storm surge. Debris cleanup on the road and the Homer Spit Trail and bike path was finished Friday.
The next phase of repairs, according to Jenny Carroll, City of Homer special projects and communications coordinator, will involve extending the armor rock revetment another 1,100 feet beyond its current ending point in order to better protect that section of Homer Spit Road from being vulnerable to damage in the future.
This second phase is expected to begin on Dec. 2 and should take approximately three weeks to complete. Contractors anticipate paving the graveled sections of Homer Spit Road following the completion of the revetment extension.
According to an update provided on the City of Homer website on Friday, the new revetment will end just before the turnoff to the Glacier D restaurant, or what used to be the city-owned west side tent camping area on the Spit, and requires approximately 9,400 tons of material, which is being barged and trucked into Homer and staged in preparation for the next construction phase.
Community members are advised to watch out for additional large truck traffic on the Sterling Highway from Baycrest Hill to Homer Spit Road, and on Outer Dock Road on the Spit. A map detailing construction zones and truck hauling routes on the Spit is available on the city website.
“We are asking people to not only use caution on the road and watch for turning trucks, but there’s also some advisories about use of the boat trailer parking lot right behind the load and launch ramp,” Carroll said. “If people are wanting to park a trailer, they have to go beyond that area to park, because that’s a laydown zone for the road repair work.”
Construction hours starting on Dec. 2 will be “intermittent around-the-clock,” according to the City of Homer, as the revetment extension work can only be conducted during low tide. Beach users are asked to stay away from the revetment work zone when walking or recreating on the beach during this construction period.
The City of Homer is also continuing to coordinate with representatives from the State Emergency Operations Center to understand next steps, including identifying overall damages from the storm event, understanding the degree of the disaster and developing rough order magnitude costs, Carroll said.
SEOC is also helping the city organize information that can be made available to property owners affected by the storm surge to help them understand the options they have for financial assistance. Currently, the city is focused on what options may be available under a local emergency disaster, because as of press time there is no borough, state or federal-level disaster declaration.
The City of Homer is planning to have a meeting with local properties stakeholders on Monday, Dec. 2 from 5-7 p.m. to engage in discussions with, share information and learn how best to support affected Spit property owners. Further details on that meeting will be forthcoming from the city.
Following the cleanup work that was completed on Friday, state operations on Homer Spit Road will be stepped down until the next phase of repairs scheduled for Dec. 2. However, Carroll said, there is still “ongoing movement” of materials and trucks and drivers are advised to heed safety warnings, including notices for closed shoulders, while travelling on the Spit.
“There are still some steep drop-offs on this next section that the state will be working on, and the shoulders aren’t what they used to be,” she said. “So just to be very aware of that — and there are some slow-down areas around the work zone.”
When work resumes on Dec. 2, there will be additional traffic controls and flaggers in place on the road.
“People should expect that if they’re out there (on the Spit road), it’s not closed by any means and we’re not discouraging people from going — just know that there will be a lot of work going on for most of December,” Carroll said.”
Follow updates on the City of Homer website at www.cityofhomer-ak.gov/citymanager/homer-spit-storm-surge-emergency-response.
This story was updated on Monday, Nov. 25, after receiving further response details from the City of Homer.
Delcenia Cosman/Homer News Repairs to the shoulder on Homer Spit Road are seen on Thursday, Nov. 21., 2024, in Homer, Alaska
A flagger conducts a traffic stop on Homer Spit Road on Thursday, Nov. 21, 2024, in Homer, Alaska. (Delcenia Cosman/Homer News)
The southbound lane of Homer Spit Road, which was damaged by the Nov. 16 storm surge, is temporarily repaired with gravel and reopened on Thursday, Nov. 21, 2024, in Homer, Alaska. (Delcenia Cosman/Homer News)
