Deadman Lake Road Improvements

DESCRIPTION

BCE provided engineering services for two U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) projects along the Alaska Highway, including targeted improvements at Deadman Lake and Lakeview campgrounds within the Tetlin National Wildlife Refuge near Tok, Alaska. Originally constructed in the 1940s during the highway’s development, the campground access roads had seen minimal upgrades beyond routine maintenance, resulting in chronic washouts each spring due to poor soil conditions, permafrost, and inadequate drainage infrastructure. These issues had rendered the sites inaccessible to large recreational vehicles commonly visiting the campgrounds. Site surveys and geotechnical investigations were conducted at both locations. Existing conditions were evaluated and recommendations were provided for future improvements at the Lakeview campground. Deadman Lake campground, the larger and more frequently used of the two, required design of critical road improvements including modifications to the road prism to accommodate permafrost conditions, new specifications for the subbase and surface material, and drainage improvements through culvert and ditch designs. As part of the design process, detailed construction cost estimates were developed to support planning and budgeting. The project also prioritized maintaining the original road alignment, an intentional choice to minimize environmental disturbance and preserve the surrounding wilderness. To improve usability, the design also incorporated three vehicle pullouts along the narrow, one-way 1.2-mile road, eliminating the need for vehicles to reverse over long distances when encountering oncoming traffic.