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Port of Anchorage Opens Up to the PublicIt's an up-close look at the facility through which 85 percent of state residents get 90 percent of their goods.Related Content
Today the Port of Anchorage began its fourth year of offering public tours during the summer. The tours are intended to build support for the ongoing port expansion project but also to educate Alaskans about the significance of this asset for the state. The tours are being given on Sundays through August 28, from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. It's an up-close look at the facility through which 85 percent of state residents get 90 percent of their goods. Because of its proximity to Joint Base Elmendorf Richardson -- and due to Anchorage's location in the Pacific Rim -- the Port of Anchorage has been designated by the Department of Defense as one of 19 strategic ports in the United States. That means there's plenty of security and limited access. So the public tours of the port give some Alaskans their first behind-the-scenes look at the large-scale cargo operations. "You know, a lot of people are just amazed with the cargo and the way that the port runs, because this is the first time that they've been able to see it up close," said Lindsey Whitt, the port’s marketing director. “We have a lot of questions about military deployments and the things that we offer for the military." The port serves all of Alaska except the Southeast panhandle. All of the jet fuel for Elmendorf and two-thirds for Ted Stevens International Airport arrives at the port, as do 100 million pounds of bypass mail goods annually that support 250 villages. And without the groceries that come through the port, Alaskans would get hungry fast. "We have between a week and a half to two weeks before we would become a state of emergency," Whitt said. The $1 billion port expansion project has been a frequent source of controversy. The Municipality of Anchorage is suing a federal agency over the proposed route for the Knik Arm Bridge, in part because of the impact it would have on the existing port and the expansion project. "The mayor is not against the bridge, he's a bridge supporter, but this is a big asset that the city of anchorage has, and you can't mess it up,” said former Governor Bill Sheffield, the port director. Sheffield says the Knik Arm Bridge and Toll Authority (KABATA) is getting ahead of itself anyway. "You know, the KABATA people have not even asked the (Army) Corps of Engineers for a permit to build the bridge yet, so it's unknown whether that's even ever going to happen. In the meantime, they want us to stop what we're doing and get ready for them." KABATA Chairman Michael Foster issued a statement Friday: “The complaint by the municipality is currently being evaluated by the attorney general's office. “We are confident in the record of decision that was issued by the Federal Highway Administration. “KABATA is moving forward with right-of-way acquisition, permitting and procurement activities." In any case, the expansion will take several more years. But in the meantime, port officials hope Alaskans will take note of how vital the facility already is to their daily lives. There are no fees for the tour. The staging location is at the railroad corporate headquarters downtown. From there, tour buses make the trek to the port. And there's a free lunch. |
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jjj said on Thursday, Aug 25 at 11:46 AM
TOUR THE MUD PIT!!! what a joke! and another waste of our money!
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