Knik-Matanuska Bridges Biggest Project
VICINITY MAP
knik- matanuska rivers
NCAA PALMtR ALASKA
ft* i
Road and bridge building in Alaska is hamp
ered by rugged country, severe weather, perma
nently frozen earth, and other such problems that
the highway engineers here have come to accept as
commonplace, but it seems that each year brings an
other rare opportunity for these engineers to pit
their skills against the elements of a wilderness
state.
And the latest one — phenomenal though it
may seem — is a natural phenomenon, a lake that
creates itself each year and just as regularly empties
itself, gorging the valley below with tremedous
forces of water and ice. But engineers from the
Alaska Department of Highways not only have con
quered the problem, they have accomplished the
studies and design of Alaska's biggest highway proj
ect in record time.
The Knik - Matanuska bridges and related road
work—a $7 million project—will be advertised this
fall, following ten months of intense design work
once the project was considered a priority job for
the state. It involves three major crossings of the
Matanuska River and one long span over the Knik
River, a total of 4,076 feet of continuous steel plate
girder bridges, and 2.7 miles of new roadway to tie
it to the present primary highway system.
It is the biggest single construction project ever
to be undertaken by the Alaska Department of High
ways.
Although state engineers could see the need
for a new structure to replace a 27 year old truss
bridge over the Knik River, there was no real ur
gency until May 1962, when a truck carrying an
overheight load forced its way through the old
bridge, bending portal and vertical members and
bracings of the already damaged structure. The
maintenance forces of the Department of Highways
accomplished $58,000 worth of repair work on the
bridge, but it will never be suitable for heavy trucks
again. Due to the severe structural damage, trucks
presently are restricted to a 10-ton load limit, one
way traffic and no gear change while on the bridge
State engineers studied the damaged structure
at length. They found it was not designed to carry
the heavy loads allowed on Alaska highways, and
that it would not be able to withstand many more
trips with restricted loads. The 2,000 foot bridge, at
Mile 38 on the Gienn Highway, is the lifeline to An
chorage, the largest city in Alaska—if the bridge is
out, Anchorage would not have a direct land connec
tion with the rest of the United States. It was deter
mined that the bridge was badly overstressed for
strength and traffic safety, and a crash program was
initiated to replace the weak structure.
In November subsurface exploration was be
gun and continued throughout the winter. The De
partment of Highways also requested the United
States Geological Survey to prepare a bridge site
report involving the study of hydrologic and hy
draulic characteristics of the streams. Meanwhile the
Anchorage District Highway Office began surveys
to determine the proposed centerline of the new
road and bridge complex.
One of the problems confronting the bridge de
sign engineers was the annual breakup o£ Lake
George, a glacial lake high above the Gienn High
way. According to the U.C.G.S. report:
"Flooding in the Knik River Valley is caused by the
annual failure of ice-dammed Lake George. Contin
uous forward movement of the Knik Glacier keeps
the Knik River plugged with solid ice except for a
narrow channel between the ice front and Mount
Palmer. This narrow channel, known as the Gorge,
is kept open by the emptying of Lake George during
the late summer. After the lake has drained and the
outflow roughly equals the inflow, the Gorge be
comes stable. Then after the snowmelt decreases, the
advance of the glacier overcomes ihe erosion of the
river and closes the Gorge to form next season's ice
melt."
When this natural phenomenon occurs, the
stream flow, which is normally around 10,000 cubic
feet per second, swells to more than 350,000 c.f.s.
Consequently, exceptionally high velocities of flow
had to be taker into consideration for bridges ac
ross this interbraiding stream. Since it was antici
pated that scour may occur as much as 50 feet deep
at the abutment areas, rock riprap protection plays
an importan, part of the design. Spur dikes also will
be placed farther upstream to guide the river's flow
before it reaches the structure, thereby alleviating
some scour damage, and all piers are armored
against ice and designed to take the shock of ice
flows.
All the bridges are identical in detail so that
they can be mass produced in the field by repetitive
work, a factor that cou;d save cons derable money
in a oro|ect of this si.:e. Of the four bridges, the
Knix crossing is the longest with a tota length of
1,524 feet. The other bridges, in order of occur
rence are 514 feet, 918 feet, and 1,120 feet in
length.
Some enormous quantities of material will be used
in the construction, including nearly mne miles of
cast-in-place piling,- 3,700 tons of structural steel,
1,900,000 pounds of reinforcing steel, and 14,000
cubic yards of concrete.
The new alignment will reduce the mileage
from Anchorage to Palmer by approximately eight
miles besides eliminating a particularly dangerous
section of the road and the damaged bridge. The
road will leave the present Glenn Highway nearly
nine miles west of the present Knik River bridge
and cross the river about 2,000 feet downriver from
the present Alaska Railroad bridge.
Legal Notice
UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF
THE INTERIOR. BUREAU OF LAND
MANAGEMENT. Land Office. Cor
dova Building, 555 Cordova Street,
Anchorage, Alaska.
NOTICE FOR PUBLICATION
Notice is hereby given that Philo J.
Edgerton, Jr., entryman, of Palmer.
Alaska, together with his witnesses Ina
M. Parks of Palmer. Alaska, and Alvin
A. Johnston of Palmer. Alaska, has sub
mited final proof on his Homestead en
try, Anchorage Serial Number 042600 for
a tract of land described as
SW>4. Section 34, T. 19 N.,
R. 1 E., S.M.,
containing 160 acres, and it is now in
the files of the Land Office. Anchorage,
Alaska. Any person, corporation, or as
sociation having or asserting any ad
verse interest in, or claim to, the tract
of land or any part thereof sought, may
file in the Anchorage Land Office, dur
ing the period of publication or within
30 days thereafter, under oath, an ad
verse claim setting forth the nature
and extent thereof, and such adverse
claimant shall, within sixty days after
the filing of such adverse claim, begin
action to quiet title in a court of com
petent jurisdiction within Alaska, and
thereafter patent shall be issued in con
formity with the final decree of the
court.
Warner T. May. Manager
For Alfred P. Steger,
Chief, Lands Section
Pub: Sept. 12, 19. 26. Oct. 3 and 10. 1963
Legal Notice
UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF
THE INTERIOR, BUREAU OF LAND
MANAGEMENT, Land Office, Cor
dova Building, 555 Cordova Street
Anchorage, Alaska.
NOTICE FOR PUBLICATION
Notice is hereby given that Jack Carl,
entryman, of Palmer. Alaska, together
with his witnesses Willa Fare Harter
of TVasilla. Alaska, and John R. Pelkey
of Spenard, Alaska, has submitted final
prof on his Homestead entry. Anchorage
Serial Number 094764 for a tract of land
des'-ribed as
NEU. Section 13. T. 18 N.,
R 4 W.. S.M..
containing 160 acres, and it is now in
the files of the Land Office, Anchorage,
Alaska. Any person, corporation, or
association having or asserting any ad
verse interest in, or claim to. the tract
of land or any part thereof sought, may
file in the Anchorage Land Office, dur
ing the period of publication or within
30 davs thereafter, under oath, an ad
verse claim setting forth the nature and
exten thereof, and such adverse claim
ant shall, within sixty days after the
filing of such adverse claim, begin ac
tion to quiet title in a court of com
petent jurisdiction within Alaska, and
thereafter patent shall be issued in con
formity with the final decree of the
court.
Warner T. May, Manager
For Alfred P. Steger,
Chief, Lands Section
Pub Sept. 12. 19, 26. Oct. 3 and 10, 1963
Legal Notice
UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF
THE INTERIOR. BUREAU OF LAND
MANAGEMENT. Land Office. Cor
dova Building, 555 Cordova Street,
Anchorage, Alaska.
NOTICE FOR PUBLICATION
Notice is hereby given that Noble A.
Bumgarner, entryman, of Sutton, Alas
ka, together with his witnesses Alex
ander Soto of Wasilla, Alaska, and Her
man L. Cotter of Palmer. Alaska, has
submited final proof on his Homestead
entry, Anchorage Serial Number 048862
for a tract of land describedas
Lots 2 and 3. Section 28: Lots 1 and
2, Section 29; T. 20 N.. R. 6 E., S.M.,
containing 137.98 acres, and it is now in
the files of the Land Office. Anchorage,
Alaska. Any person, corporation, or
association having or asserting any ad
verse interest in, or claim to, the tract
of land or any part thereof sought, may
file in the Anchorage Land Office, dur
ing the period of publication or within
30 days thereafter, under oath, an ad
verse claim setting forth the nature
and extent thereof, and such adverse
claimant shall, within sixty days after
the filing of such adverse claim, begin
action to quiet title in a court of com
petent jurisdiction within Alaska, and
thereafter patent shal be issued in con
formity with the final decree of the
court.
Alfred P. Steger
Chief. Lands Section
Pub: Sept. 12. 19. 26. Oct. 3 and 10. 1963
Legal Notice
UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF
THE INTERIOR. BUREAU OF LAND
MANAGEMENT. Land Office. Cordo
va Building. 555 Cordova Street
Anchorage. Alaska.
NOTICE FOR PUBLICATION
Notice is hereby given that Kenneth
G. Taggart entry man, of Wasilla, Alas
ka, together with his witnesses William
E. Stolt of Wasilla, Alaska and Russell
C. Brock of Willow. Alaska has submit
ted final proof on his Homestead entry
Anchorage Serial Number 053294 for a
tract of land described as
SWUNWU, Section 1. T. 17 N., R. 2
W., S.M.,
containing 40 acres, and it is now in the
files of the Land Office, Anchorage, Al_
aska. Any person, corporation, or asso
ciation having or asserting any adverse
interest, in or claim to. the tract of land
or any part thereof sought, may file
in the Anchorage Land Office, during
the period of publication or within 30
days thereafter, under oath, an adverse
claim setting forth the nature and ex
tent thereof, and such adverse claimant
shall, within sixty days after the filing
of such adverse claim, begin action to
quiet title in a court of competent
jurisdiction within Alaska, and there
after patent shall be issued in confor
mity with the final decree of the court.
ALFRED P STEGER
Chief, Lands Section
Pub.. Aug. 22. 29, Sept. 5, 12 and 19.
1963.
Legal Notice
UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT Ol
THE INTERIOR. BUREAU OF LANI
MANAGEMENT. Land Office. Cor
dova Building. 555 Cordova Street
Anchorage, Alaska
NOTICE FOR PUBLICATION
Notice is hereby given that Charle
Judson Nichols entryman, of Bargers
ville, Indiana, together with his wit
nesses Cliften C. Nichols of Montana
Alaska and James Edward Shade o
Sunshine. Alaska has submitted fina
proof on his Homestead entry Anchor
age Serial Number 048772 for a trac
of land described as
NE»4. Section 29. T 24 N.. R. 4 W .
S.M..
containing 160 acres, and it is now ii
the files of the Land Office. Anchor
age. Alaska Any person, corporation
or association having or asserting an:
adverse interest in. or claim to. thi
tract of land or any part thereo
'ought, may file in the Anchorage Lam
Office, during the period of publicatioi
or within 30 days thereafter, unde
oath, an adverse claim setting fort!
the nature and extent thereof, and sue!
adverse claimant shall, within sixt;
days after the filing of such advers
claim, begin action to quiet title in
court of competent jurisdiction withi
Alaska, and thereafter patent shall b
issued in conformity with the final de
cree of the court.
ALFRED P. STEGER
Chief. Lands Section
Pub: Sept. 5. 12, 19. 26 and Oct. 3, 1963
Legal Notice
' UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF
i THE INTERIOR, Bureau of Land
Management, Land Office, Cordova
Building, 6th and Cordova, Anch
orage. Alaska
NOTICE FOR PUBLICATION
Notice is hereby given that Don De
Hart has made application for a Head
quarters Site under the Act of March
: 3. 1927 (44 Stat. 1364 ; 48 U.S.C., Sec.
1 461) identified by Anchorage Serial
Number 021074 for a tract of land des
cribed as
Lot 12. U. S. Survey No. 3483, situat
ed on the Southwesterly shore of Lake
Louise, containing 3.96 acres,
i Any person, corporation, or association
having or asserting any adverse inter
est in or claim to the tract of land or
any part thereof may file in the Anch
* orage Land Office their objections to
f the issuance of patent during the peri
i od of publication or within 30 days
i thereafter. Objections must be filed
r under oath, setting forth the nature
i and extent of the adverse claim; and
i the adverse claimant shall, within 60
r days after the filing of such claim, be
? gin action to quiet title in a court of
i competent jurisdiction in Alaska, and
i thereafter patent shall be issued in
; conformity with the final decree of
- i the court.
ALFRED P. STEGER
Chief. Lands Section
To be published July 23. August 1. 8.
• 15. 22. 30. September 5. 12, and 19, 1963
Social Security
Man to be Here
Friday, Oct. 4
Lee R Christensen, s o c . a 1
security representative, will
visit Palmer on Friday. Oct. 4
If you have a problem o. a
question about the old-age, sur
vivors or disability program,
you are inv ited to see Mr.
Christensen. He will be in Haz
sl Byham's office from 10 a m.
:o 12 noon on that day.
'Inquire before you retire.”
V’ou may have heard or read
his phrase before and wond
ered what it really means in
eonnection with your social se
curity.
What it means is that you
;hou!d prepare for applying for
;ocial security benefit, with
:he same care you prepare for
ill important events in your
ife. Inquiring before you re
lire will give you the facts on
the documents, proofs, and the
special information you will
need to bring along with you
when you finally apply for
your social security benefits.
Basically, you will need to
prove your age. To do this, a
birth certificate will be suffi
cient. If, however, you do not
have one. a baptismal certifi
cate can be used, or old insur
ance papers, school records,
voting records, census records,
etc. The type of document you
need can be explained to you
by your local social security
representative if you inquire
before you are ready to retire.
There are over 180 geysers in
Yellowstone Nat’l Park of
which only 120 are named.
Legal Notice
UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF
THE INTERIOR, BUREAU OF LAND
MANAGEMENT, Land Office. Cor
dova Building, 555 Cordova Street,
Anchorage. Alaska
NOTICE FOR PUBLICATION
Notice is hereby given that Hubert
Earl Harkey, entry man. of Willow
Alaska, together with his witnesses
Maxweldon Sides of Willow, Alaska
| and Wayne D Caldwell of Willow.
Alaska, has submited final proof on his
Homestead Original and Additional
entry Anchorage Serial Numbers 045701
and 052607 for a tract of land described
!
Lot 12. Section 24. T 19 N., R. 5 W
Lot 3. NE‘4SW»4. WUSEU. Section
1 1.9. T 19 N, R. 4 W . S.M..
containing 165.23 acres, and it is now in
j the files of the Land Office. Anchorage,
Alaska. Any person, corporation, or
' association having or asserting any ad
| vetse interest in. or claim to. the tract
I of land or any part thereof sought, may
file in the Anchorage Land Office, dur
ing the period of publication or within
30 days thereafter, under oath, an ad
verse claim setting forth the nature
and extent thereof and such adverse
claimant shall, within sixty days after
the filing of such adverse claim, begin
action to quiet title in a court of com
petent jurisdiction within Alaska, and
thereafter patent shall be issued in con
formity with the final decree of the
Alfred P Steger
Chief. Lands Section
Pub Sept 12. 1!). 26. Oct. 3 and 10. 1:>63
UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF
THE INTERIOR. Bureau of Land
Management. Land Office, Cordova
Building. 555 Cordova Street. Anchor
age. Alaska
NOTICE FOR PUBLICATION
Notice is hereby given that Roger
Franklin Patton entryman, of Wasilia.
Alaska together with his witnesses
Patrick J Carney of Wasilia. Alaska
raid Edward E. Carney of Wasilia. Al
aska has submitted final proof on his
Homestead entry Anchorage Serial
Number 037655 for a tract of land des
cribed as
SWINE'4. SEV4SWU. WVaSE»4. Sec
tion 11. T 18 N.. R. 1 W . S.M.,
containing 160 acres, and it is now in
the files of the Land Office, Anchorage.
Alaska. Any person, corporation, or as
sociation having or asserting any ad
verse interest in. or claim to. the tract
of land or any part thereof sought, may
file in the Anchorage Land Office, dur_
ing the period of publication or within
30 days thereafter, under oath, an ad
verse claim setting forth the nature and
extent thereof, and such adverse claim,
ant shall, within sixty days after the
the filing of such adverse claim,
begin action to quiet title in a court
of competent jurisdiction within Alas
ka. and thereafter patent shall be is
sued in conformity with the final de
cree of the court.
ALFRED P STEGER
Chief, Lands Section
Pub Aug. 22. 29. Sept. 5, 12. and 19.
1963.
UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF
THE INTERIOR, BUREAU OF LAND
MANAGEMENT, Land Office. Cordo
va Building. 6th and Cordova, Anch
orage. Alaska
NOTICE FOR PUBLICATION
Notice is hereby given that Raymond
Joseph Alldredge has made application
for a Homesite under the Act of May
26. 1934 (48 Stat. 809) identified by
Anchorage Serial Number 026942 for a
tract of land described as
Lot 2, U. S. Survey No. 3925, situated
on the South side of the Glenn High
way at Mile 166, containing 5.00 acres.
Any person, corporation, or association
having or asserting any adverse interest
in or claim to the tract of land or any
part thereof may file in the Anchorage
Land Office their objections to the is
suance of patent during the period of
publication or within 30 days there
after. Objections must be filed under
oath, setting forth the nature and ex
tent of the adverse claim; and the ad
verse claimant shall, within 60 days
after the filing of such claim, begin
action to quiet title in a court of com.
potent jurisciction in Alaska, and there
after patent shall be issued in con
formity w’ith the final decree of the
ALFRED P. STEGER
Chief, Lands Section
Published August 15 . 22. 29, September
5, 12, 19. 26. October 3 and 10. 196o