Chad Moffett and Christina SlatteryPreserving the Historic Road Conference

Savannah, Georgia

September 27, 2014

Way Up North:Screening for Significance on Alaska’s Roads

Introduction

Limited National Register guidance

Lack of statewide historic context and evaluation framework

DOT&PF executed PA in 2010

2

Historic Overview

Historic Overview

Development of Alaska’s roads

Important state, regional, and national themes

Major trends in road history, construction, and engineering

4

Historic Overview5

Source: Alaska Road Commission Annual Report, 1955

Evaluation Methodology

Click icon to add picture

Screening Process

Screening Process

Focuses efforts

Applies three simple filters

Uses readily available information

8

Screening Process

Three filters: Connectivity

Age

Consultation

9

Screening Process

Overall process showing filters

10

Screening Process

Readily available information

11

Screening Process

Filter 1: Connectivity Type and importance of the

access road historically provided

12

Screening Process

Filter 1: Connectivity National, state, or

important regional access

13

Screening Process

Filter 1: Connectivity Characteristics of low potential to individually possess significance

14

Screening Process

Filter 2: Age Minimum age requirements (45 years)

Potential to possess exceptional importance

15

Screening Process

Filter 3: Consultation Input from public and consulting parties

Information not available from readily available information

16

Application of the Screening Process

Elliott Highway

Includes 154 miles from Fox to Manley Hot Springs

18

Elliott Highway

Provided important regional access

Constructed 1938-1959, earlier road segments

19

Elliott Highway

Meets Filters 1 and 2

Assigned to Category 2

20

Wilson Road

2-mile road in Gustavus in southeast Alaska21

Wilson Road

Provided access to an airport

Exhibits characteristics of road with low potential for significance

Moved to Filter 3

22

Wilson Road

Information provided by City of Gustavus suggested road had potential local importance

Assigned to Category 2

23

Next Steps

Finalize Evaluation Methodology

Roads passing screening process require evaluation

Thresholds on how a road meets Criteria A or C

Integrity guidance

25

Finalize Evaluation Methodology

Statements of significance for 12 roads

Evaluation of the Elliott Highway

26

Conclusion