The proposed Juneau Road would consist of 51 miles of new road from Echo Cove (approximately 40 miles north of Juneau) to the Katzehin River via the east side of Lynn Canal, a new ferry terminal at the river 90 miles from Juneau rather than the existing terminal 13 miles from Juneau, and new shuttle ferries to Haines (pop. 1,474) and Skagway (pop. 845).

According to an independent estimate undertaken by the state, the project will cost approximately a half-billion dollars not including cost increases that are likely when the terrain has been fully surveyed. The State of Alaska has spent $25 million to date on the project, and all necessary permits have been issued. On February 13, 2009, however, federal Judge John Sedwick of the Alaska District Court ruled that the existing Environmental Impact Statement is inadequate because it did not analyze enhanced ferry service, and thus must be revised which calls all issued permits into question. The state is appealing this decision to the 9th Circuit Court of Appeals; the federal government will not join the appeal.

Despite the unlikelihood of complete project construction due to the lack of federal and state funds, in December 2009 Governor Parnell announced he would spend $5 million to upgrade the first 3 miles of the road beyond Echo Cove using previously appropriated state funds. For more information, click here.

Media coverage:

• A federal appeals court panel heard oral arguments on the Juneau Access Road, after a lower court ruled that the project violated the National Environmental Policy Act. APRN coverage by Steve Heimel, July 26th, 2010.
• Juneau Road project moves into new realm: 50-mile road designated a 'mega-project', Juneau Empire, July 14, 2009
• Palin Also Supported The "Road To Nowhere" (And May Still), The Huffington Post, September 4, 2008
• See documentary video: Steep, Not Cheap