The intersection of Lake Otis and Tudor has frustrated Anchorage drivers for decades and has probably left them wondering-will anything ever be done to fix the gridlock?

The Legislature took the first and most important step two years ago when it crafted a statewide transportation bond that included 37.5 million dollars to pay for the construction of the Bragaw extension.

Any traffic engineer in Anchorage worth his or her salt will tell you the key to solving this mess is open up new transportation corridors to divert traffic away from Lake Otis and Tudor; the Bragaw extension promises to do just that. This long overdue road project will break ground in June of next year.

The Legislature is poised to fund even more road improvements. We want to extend Dowling Road to the east so it connects with the Bragaw extension and if needed, set aside additional funding for the Bragaw Road project. These projects, along with the Abbott Loop upgrade and other projects identified by the municipality will be among our priorities when the legislative session starts in January.

The current city administration has proposed adding several turn lanes to Lake Otis and Tudor and is asking the Legislature to fund the project with a state road bond. At first glance this seems like a good idea, but this is strictly a band-aid fix. State DOT traffic engineers estimate it will only increase the traffic flow by around ten percent. New turn lanes were added to the intersection just five years ago and it clearly didn't solve the problem.

The normal process to pay for the extra Tudor Road turn lanes would be to add the project to the AMATS Transportation Improvement Plan list. So far, the mayor refuses to do so, saying it will take too long to secure the money. All parties agree that the AMATS process is slow, but giving special treatment to one road project that really doesn't solve the problem, over other new construction projects that have waited for years to get funding, is inherently unfair.

Paying for the new turn lanes and other improvements with just state money when federal dollars are available is poor public policy. Lawmakers have to fund transportation projects statewide, not just for Anchorage. To make the state roads dollars stretch as far as possible requires us to get as much federal money as possible.

Now the city administration is calling on all legislative candidates and incumbents to sign a "pledge" that they will support its plan for Lake Otis & Tudor. The letter arrogantly says if they do not sign and return the pledge, the mayor will assume they don't support fixing the intersection.

Anchorage area legislators and candidates for the legislature already make a commitment when they seek public office. Election year stunts such as demanding pledge cards, should be looked upon by voters with a healthy dose of skepticism.

It is important that Anchorage residents understand that the Legislature has worked successfully with prior administrations and is willing to work with the current city administration to modernize the Anchorage area transportation infrastructure - one such project being the proposed Boniface Parkway extension. This extension will provide another way for drivers to move from the east side of town to south Anchorage, and this road extension could become a reality in the next legislative cycle.

Environmental groups have traditionally opposed any new roads, and these are the same environmental groups that have supported Mayor Mark Begich throughout his career. The Mayor's influence with these groups could help pave the way to getting this critical road project completed.

Solving the traffic problem at Lake Otis and Tudor will take more than a single project; opening new transportation corridors and getting all the stakeholders to work together in a constructive manner is the solution to this long-standing issue.

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