Juneau - George Wuerch, chairman of the Knik Arm Bridge and Toll Authority on Tuesday briefed members of the Senate and House Transportation committees on the status of plans to build a nearly 3-mile-long causeway to connect the Port of Anchorage to Port MacKenzie.

"We've been talking about this for the 50-some years I've been in Alaska, so it's gratifying to see progress being made on this project" said committee co-chair Sen. John J. Cowdery (R-Anchorage) "We're running out of land for buildings, homes or any other kind of development, so the time has come. With a supportive U.S. congressional delegation in key committee positions, the time is now."

The authority was established by legislation sponsored last year by Sen. Lyda Green (R-Wasilla) to provide the legal basis to develop and secure funding for the project.

Wuerch, former Mayor of Anchorage, told the committees the most important benefit of the project is to connect the two ports. In addition, the bridge will be designed to facilitate construction of a parallel railroad bridge.

"I'm interested in developing a corridor via road, rail and port to get products from one side of the Knik Arm into Anchorage and out for export without having that laborious drive," said Sen. Green.

The bridge would increase the capacity of the ports to meet future needs, and to open up land for residential and commercial development by shortening driving time from, in many cases, hours to minutes.

Advance planning efforts are being funded by a $5 million federal appropriation. Capital construction funding may come from a combination of congressional appropriations, state grants and revenue bonds sold by the toll authority.

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