DOT&PF Notice of Floodplain Encroachment: Kaxdigoowu Heen Dei Improvements (Brotherhood Bridge Trail Improvements)

Project # SFHWY00259
The Alaska Department of Transportation and Public Facilities (DOT&PF) is proposing to design and improve the Kaxdigoowu Heen Dei Trail from River Road to the edge of Brotherhood Meadow. Work would primarily consist of replacing the Montana Creek pedestrian bridge, repairing subgrade in select areas, repaving, and replacing/adding new drainage culverts as needed.
The proposed project would:
• Replace the pedestrian bridge at Montana Creek to provide a larger span for more natural stream movement and to allow emergency and maintenance vehicle use
• Armor Montana Creek streambanks to increase the expected life of the new/modified bridge.
• Trail reconstruction including repairing subgrade in select areas
• Repave the trail
• Replace and/or add drainage culverts
Construction is projected to begin as early as summer 2023 and would take 3-4 months. Kaxdigoowu Heen Dei would be closed to thru traffic during construction. DOT&PF will

provide additional public notice for potential closure dates once the construction schedule is developed.
The project involves construction and pile driving near the Mendenhall River, and as such, will include encroachments into the base floodplain. The project is in a mapped regulatory floodplain. Changes to base flood elevations are not anticipated, however, more extensive hydraulic analysis is needed.
The environmental review, consultation, and other actions required by applicable Federal environmental laws for this project are being, or have been, carried out by DOT&PF pursuant to 23 U.S.C. 327 and a Memorandum of Understanding dated November 3, 2017, and executed by FHWA and DOT&PF.
Development of this proposed project follows a process required by the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA). Based on project location and scope of work, the environmental document is anticipated to be a categorical exclusion (CE). Possible affected resources include wetlands, waters of the U.S., eagles, floodplain, essential fish habitat, and cultural or historic properties.
The proposed project would comply with all applicable authorities including:
• EO-11988 (Floodplain Management)
• EO-12898 (Environmental Justice) 
• Bald and Golden Eagle Protection Act
• Clean Air Act and Clean Water Acts  
• Endangered Species Act        
• Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation Management Act
• National Historic Preservation Act - Section 106 
• U.S. Fish and Wildlife Coordination Act
DOT&PF is soliciting comments on the proposed project. Your comments would help us evaluate potential environmental, social, and economic impacts of this project, as well as impacts to historic and cultural resources.
Please submit your written comments to:
Christina Mounce, Environmental Impact Analyst
DOT&PF Southcoast Region
P.O. Box 112506
Juneau, AK 99811-2506
Phone: (907) 465-3705
Fax: (907) 465-4414
Email: christina.mounce@alaska.gov 
To ensure that all possible factors are considered, please provide comments via email, fax, or mailing address by May 20, 2022.
It is the policy of the Alaska Department of Transportation and Public Facilities (DOT&PF) that no person shall be excluded from participation in, or be denied benefits of, any and all programs or activities we provide based on race, religion, color, gender, age, marital status, ability, or national origin, regardless of the funding source including Federal Transit Administration (FTA), Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) and State of Alaska funds. DOT&PF complies with Title II of the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990.
If you or someone you represent requires special accommodations in order to respond to this public notice, please call or email the project coordinator listed above, or call Alaska Relay at 711, or call (800) 770-8973 for TTY, (800) 770-8255 for voice, (800) 770-3919 for ASCII, (866) 355-6198 for STS. Ask the communications assistant to call the project coordinator listed above so arrangements can be made to assist you.