VOLUME 2 | ISSUE 3 | SUMMER 2025
WEST SUSITNA ACCESS PROJECT MOVES AHEAD
begin 1.4 miles west of Alexander Creek, in the Matanuska-Susitna Borough, and extend to the Whiskey Bravo airstrip and mineral exploration camp west of Skwentna. That is where NovaMinerals, an Australia-based minerals company, is supporting its exploration of discoveries of gold and antimony. At its east end, the road will connect with a planned state-built highway that will cross the Susitna River on a new bridge to connect with existing Mat-Su roads a few miles further east. The bridge and highway to Alexander Creek will be built with federal funds. The route for AIDEA’s road extending west will traverse the northern side of the Skwentna River before crossing to the southern side, ending at the Whiskey Bravo airstrip. In a statement, AIDEA said the road will provide year-round public access to currently remote state public lands and private lands within the Matanus- ka-Susitna Borough and areas planned for resource development, AIDEA said. Additionally, the road will enhance commercial use of designated critical mineral development areas, promote job growth and sustainable economic bene- fits for the State and Mat-Su. The need for this access road has been identified in various state area plans, highlighting the importance of improving transportation to the region. State Rep. Kevin McCabe, R-Big Lake, a strong supporter of the road and other regional transportation improvements, said, "The West Susitna access is an ex- citing opportunity not only to unlock some of Alaska's extraordinary resource potential, but to provide all Alaskans new access to the recreation and outdoor opportunities found in the West Su." AIDEA is meanwhile exploring its options on the Ambler Road, a 211-mile surface link from the Dalton Highway to the Ambler Mining District in North- west Alaska where Ambler Metals, a joint-venture of Australia’s South 32 and Trilogy Metals, based in Canada, are ex- ploring copper discoveries. Gov. Dunleavy said progress on the West Susitna Road, “holds significant value for Alaskans, however, especially local residents seeking better access to hunting, fishing, recreation and poten- tial opportunities in mining, processing
Alaska Gov. Mike Dunleavy said progress on the West Susitna Road, “holds significant value for Alaskans, however, especially local resi- dents seeking better access to hunting, fishing, recreation and potential opportunities in min- ing, processing and manufacturing.”
Effort on Ambler Road falters for now despite work by delegation BY TIM BRADNER THERE’S NEW PROGRESS ON AN INDUS- TRIAL ACCESS ROAD AIMED TO REACH AN AREA WITH GOLD AND ANTIMONY DISCOVER- IES IN THE WESTERN MATANUSKA-SUSITNA BOROUGH. But hopes for another minerals ac- cess road to the Ambler Mining District in Northwest Alaska, are dampened for now. An effort by Alaska’s congressional delegation to secure approval for the Ambler Road failed as Congress moved to approve President Donald Trump’s “Big Beautiful” tax and budget bill. But on a brighter note, the Alaska Industrial Development and Export Au- thority (AIDEA) is moving ahead with an application for a U.S. Corps of Engi- neers Section 404 permit for the West Susitna Access Project, a proposed in- dustrial road connecting undeveloped western parts of the Matanuska-Susita Borough with public roads in the bor- ough. The planned 78.5-mile industrial-use road, may also be the first Alaska project to qualify for accelerated federal permit- ting under the president’s “Beautiful” bill, now signed into law. The accelerating permitting requires that the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers develop an Environmental Impact State- ment and a Record of Decision for the road within a year. Under previous law, an Environmen- tal Impact Statement, or EIS, could take years. For example, Donlin Gold, the joint-venture developing a large gold project, took five years to complete its EIS and Record of Decision. Donlin Gold’s project is in the mid-Kuskokwim
and manufacturing.” "My administration and AIDEA are continually exploring ways to boost our economy and create well-paying jobs for
families. This project presents a fantas- tic opportunity for Alaska to expand and generate revenue."
TEMSCO
Serving all of Alaska since 1958 HELICOPTERS, INC.
TIMBER EXPLORATION MINING SURVEY CARGO OPERATIONS
Photo Courtesy AIDEA
Terrain west of the Susitna River the planned road will traverse.
TEMSCO Helicopters, Inc PO Box 5057 Ketchikan, Alaska 99901 Phone 907-225-5141 • fax 907-225-2340 • www.TemscoAir.com
River region west of Anchorage. Gov. Mike Dunleavy has asked Presi- dent Trump to approve the West Susitna access road under the accelerated per- mitting procedure in the new federal
law. The Alaska Development and Export Authority, which is leading development of the West Susitna Road, as well as the Ambler Road, said the West-Su Road will
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www.AKRDC.org
ALASKA RESOURCE REVIEW SUMMER 2025
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