In Bristol Bay near Dillingham lies Aleknagik, a village of 241 people. They're asking voters for 20 million dollars of state money to build a bridge across Wood River.

"I think a lot of the voters think that this is a bridge to nowhere but this is not a bridge to nowhere," said Tina Carr, Aleknagik council member. "It's going to be connecting a community that has a north shore and a south shore and lake in between it."

Wood River Bridge is one of the larger budget items in this year's $315 million state transportation bond, which includes 28 projects statewide.

"They've had several deaths as people break through the ice in spring and fall when the ice is not strong enough," said Jeff Ottesen, Department of Transportation director. "It's very important. It allows for things like clinics and high schools all to be shared."

Village residents have to cross Wood River every day to get basics like mail, groceries and heating oil - a dangerous feat in the winter, when the river doesn't freeze all the way.

Carr recalled one night she almost drowned.

"It was at night, like 5 o'clock," Carr said. "We were going across the lake and there was a section where it was open. We didn't see that section. I had a load behind us with a sled with all my clothes that I had just washed from downtown, and we just barely made it over that open gap. I mean, if my husband had slowed down, we would have ended up in the lake, and I wouldn't be here speaking to you today."

Carr says the community has fought 30 years for the bridge and lost dozens of lives in the process - including many of her own relatives.

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