West Susitna Access
PROJECT UPDATE
Anchorage, Alaska – July 25, 2025 – The Alaska Industrial Development and Export Authority (AIDEA) is pleased to announce the submission of a Department of the Army (DA) Individual Permit application for the West Susitna Access Project. This project aims to enhance connectivity within Alaska’s Matanuska-Susitna Borough (MSB) by constructing a 78.5-mile access road.
The West Susitna Access Project will begin approximately 1.4 miles west of Alexander Creek and extend to the Whiskey Bravo airstrip and mineral exploration camp. The route will traverse the northern side of the Skwentna River before crossing to the southern side, ending at the airstrip. This road will provide year-round public access to currently remote State public lands and private lands within the Matanuska-Susitna Borough (MSB), and areas planned for resource development.
The primary purpose of this project is to provide safe, reliable, and year-round road access to remote areas, significantly improving public use for fishing, hunting, boating, recreation, and settlement. Additionally, the road will enhance commercial use of designated critical mineral development areas, promoting job growth and sustainable economic benefits for the State and MSB. The need for this access road has been identified in various State area plans, highlighting the importance of improving transportation to the region.
Funding for the development and operation of the road is anticipated to be provided via public-private partnerships, similar to AIDEA’s Delong Mountain Transportation System (DMTS) for the Red Dog Mine. This model has resulted in significant socioeconomic and public benefits through long-term, stable economic opportunities. The West Susitna Access Project is expected to stimulate economic development by providing access to valuable resources and enhancing public lands and resources value for economic development purposes. Alaska's state lands are held in title for the benefit of all Alaskans, with a constitutional mandate "to encourage the settlement of its land and the development of its resources by making them available for maximum use consistent with the public interest.
"AIDEA's West Susitna Road holds significant value for Alaskans, especially local residents seeking better access to hunting, fishing, recreation, and potential opportunities in mining, processing, 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 fantastic opportunity for Alaska to expand and generate revenue. I am dedicated to this initiative and to unlocking resources that will benefit all Alaskans." - Alaska Governor Mike Dunleavy
“The West Susitna Access is an exciting 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.” - Representative Kevin McCabe
“Responsible resource development is critical for Alaska, the United States and our allies. Especially mining for defense and technology applications such as gold, copper, and antimony. It provides thousands of jobs, tax revenue for our state, and endless recreational and economic opportunities. Alaska is far more important than most people realize, and much of that potential is right here in the heart of the Mat-Su. The West Susitna access road is required to unlock that potential.” - Senator Mike Shower.
“The West Susitna Access Project represents more than just a road, it’s a strategic investment in our region’s future. This step by AIDEA to advance permitting shows real momentum toward opening long-overdue access for families, businesses, and future generations. Reliable road access means a stronger local economy and more opportunities for recreation and responsible development. I’m pleased to see this project progressing and look forward to the lasting benefits this will bring for the Mat-Su.” - Edna DeVries, the Matanuska-Susitna Mayor
“We are thrilled that this project is moving forward in the approval process. It has been a long time coming, and we are eager to see the positive impact it will have on our community and surrounding areas!” - Cindi Hermans, President of Friends of West Susitna and Owner of the Skwentna Roadhouse and Skwentna Services.
"The Alaska Outdoor Council remains in strong support of the state creating more overland access to public lands/waters for all Alaskans. By far the majority of Alaskan state residents live in Cook Inlet drainage. A good number of these non-Alaskan Natives folks came, and stayed, in Alaska for its unlimited outdoor activities. As it did across the western U.S. state’s industrial roads became the overland access route to the outdoor activities available there today. Alaskans enjoy the access that old resource development roads provide statewide. As the Alaska Outdoor Council has done since statehood regarding nonrenewable resource development it will monitor progress on AIDEA’s Individual Permit to build a 79-mile industrial road and work with ADF&G, DNR, and DEC to assure public renewable resources remain strong.” - Rod Arno, Alaska Outdoor Council’s Public Policy Director
Project Benefits
As shown in the 2023 Economic Analysis Results for the West Susitna Access Project, the potential economic benefits of the access corridor project includes the delivery of many new opportunities for Alaskans! For a summary of this report, we encourage you to refer to the 2023 WSAP Economic Analysis Highlights.
The following are examples of how state’s economy will enjoy growth and jobs from the extraction of minerals, oil and gas development, agricultural production, harvest of timber resources, harnessing of alternative energy, and recreation access.
- Mining: Gold, silver, copper, strategic metals
- Agricultural: 65,000 acres to improve Alaska's food security
- Energy: Oil, gas, and carbon ore potential
- Forest/Timber: Harvest of timber for sale or to remove beetle-killed forest to reduce wildfire risk.
- Jobs: Thousands of career-track jobs in mining, energy, construction, and transportation sectors.
- Recreational Access: 6 million acres
- Telecommunications: Options for bringing broadband to the region
- Emergency Services: Access for fire suppression and search & rescue teams
- Land Sales: Road access to tracts of land offered in state land sales
Public-Private Partnership
-
In 2019 AIDEA and the Matanuska-Susitna Borough (MSB) signed a Memorandum of Understanding that provided a partnership framework for a phased feasibility analysis of the West Susitna Access. AIDEA and MSB, along with Alaska Operations LLC, were the initial public and private partners in Phase 2 of the West Susitna Access Project. Other private entities may participate in future development efforts.
-
On July 26, 2023, Alaska Department of Transportation & Public Facilities (DOT&PF) announced its intent to develop a public road and associated facilities in the Matanuska-Susitna Valley to meet the region’s growing demand for improved access to public land, personal properties, waterways, and recreational areas west of the Little Susitna and Susitna Rivers. DOT&PF has requested from the Alaska Industrial Development and Export Authority (AIDEA), access to design and planning documents that were developed for the West Susitna Access Corridor for use in its forthcoming planning and permitting efforts to develop this public road. AIDEA is providing this information to DOT&PF with the understanding that the state transportation agency intends to use it to expedite development of the public road, which will include access to a new boat launch at the lower Susitna River and a public campground at the road’s terminus on the river’s west side. Since ADOT&PF is taking steps to expedite development of the public road, AIDEA will turn its attention to planning and development of an industrial utility and access corridor beyond the terminus of the road to reach mining, energy, agricultural, and other economic interests in the area.
-
The project will touch on land use planning. Alaska’s Legislature directed land use plans are required for the utilization of state-owned land. Alaska Statute 38.04.065: (a) Except as provided in (d) and (h) of this section, the commissioner shall, with local governmental and public involvement under AS 38.05.945, adopt, maintain, and, when appropriate, revise regional land use plans that provide for the use and management of state-owned land.
-
The process under which this project will go forward assures meaningful participation in the planning for access and road development. Local governments, state and federal agencies, area land owners and the public will be involved at each step along the way as any regional land use Plan is adopted.
-
A non-profit group based in the Mat-Su Borough, “the Friends of West Susitna”, formed in 2022 to support the West Susitna Access Project. AIDEA is in communication with the Board of this non-profit and intends on providing updates to them as the project develops.
Department of Transportation & Public Facilities (DOT&PF) West Susitna Road Access Project
What is the Department of Transportaion & Public Facilities (DOT&PF) West Su Access Road? On July 27, 2023, Alaska Department of Transportation & Public Facilities (DOT&PF) announced its intent to develop a separate project for a public road and associated facilities in the Matanuska-Susitna Valley to meet the region’s growing demand for improved access to public land, personal properties, waterways, and recreational areas west of the Little Susitna and Susitna Rivers, extending over both the Susitna River and Alexander Creek. (See 07-28-23 AIDEA Press Release || West Susitna Access Project Update)
Click here for more information about the DOT&PF West Su Access Road