Court halts Juneau road project

A federal judge has overturned the permits for the Juneau Access highway up Lynn Canal, handing road building advocates a major defeat. The $350 million road had been on hold, awaiting outcome of the court case.

A federal judge has overturned the permits for the Juneau Access highway up Lynn Canal, handing road building advocates a major defeat.

The $350 million road had been on hold, awaiting outcome of the court case.

Judge John Sedwick of the Alaska District Court ruled Friday that enhanced ferry service should have been studied as an option for improving access to Juneau.

Sedwick said that could be done without building a road, something the Environmental Impact Statement should have included among the alternatives that it reviewed.

The Environmental Impact Study "did not include a reasonable alternative for improving ferry transportation using existing infrastructure, such as by adjusting ferry schedules, increasing frequency of ferry runs, reducing loading/unloading times, reducing fares, or other improvements," Sedwick said.

Get the complete story at the Juneau Empire.