Most longtime Ketchikan residents remember the “Bridge to Nowhere.” That was a proposed overpass project between the city and Gravina Island in the early 2000s that never happened. A means of connecting the two by replacing the airport ferry has been a topic of local conversation ever since.
It’s come up again at recent Ketchikan Borough Assembly meetings after assemblymember Rodney Dial stumbled upon an opportunity that could build an underwater tunnel between the islands at no cost – a tunnel contest.
“We think that we can make a pretty good case that the ‘Bridge to Nowhere’ could be replaced with the ‘Tunnel to Somewhere,’” said Dial at a Feb. 2 borough assembly meeting. “We want to give it a try.”
The “Tunnel Vision Challenge” is a demonstration project spearheaded by The Boring Company, a tunnel construction firm founded by billionaire Elon Musk. The Boring Company could not immediately be reached for comment. But according to its website, the company will construct a tunnel up to a mile long and 12 feet wide for the contest’s winner. If the tunnel needs to be longer than a mile, Dial said in an interview with KRBD that the borough could supplement construction and maintenance costs with a toll road or by partnering with other organizations.
The Boring Company has already constructed small-scale tunnels in Las Vegas and Texas. It also signed a construction contract in Dubai and is designing a tunnel system in Nashville.
Dial said that the borough is presenting a few tunneling options in its proposal. One is a subsea tunnel between Ketchikan and Gravina Island, using Pennock Island between the two to reduce the amount of underwater tunneling. The tunnel would then connect to an existing airport access road on Gravina. Another tunnel option would run under the Tongass Narrows from the airport parking lot in Ketchikan to a road near the airport’s runway.
Dail said if the proposed project comes to fruition, it would likely be a one-lane tunnel with alternating traffic patterns. And it won’t be noticeable above ground.
“The Boring Company reports that at just ten feet below the ground, their machine produces less vibration than a person walking on the surface,” Dial said. “So, you know, if you’re a minimum 50 feet underground, the impact will be imperceptible to anything, any marine life or whatever that’s on the ocean surface there.”
And Dial said now is the right time to explore alternatives to the long-standing airport ferry system. He said both airport ferries are nearing the end of their operational lives, and replacing one could cost around $30 million. He said construction of a tunnel could also offset the ferry’s diesel usage, although the airport ferry would still be an option for travelers.
Dial and Assemblymember Sharli Arntzen co-sponsored a resolution supporting the tunnel contest, which won unanimous approval by the assembly. Arntzen said in an interview with KRBD that state money for capital improvement projects is tight, and applying for a no-cost option is worth a shot.
“We all know we want fixed access to Gravina, and this may be an option for us to be able to get it without increasing taxes or without burdening our locals with the cost of construction,” Arntzen said.
Arntzen said a tunnel to Gravina Island could also lead to growth. Dial agrees, saying it could open up land to combat Ketchikan’s housing crunch. At a Feb. 2 borough assembly meeting, Dial said that a fixed access option between Ketchikan and Gravina Island would likely be “the greatest economic opportunity the community’s ever seen.”
But the proposed project doesn’t come without concern. Both resolution sponsors said some locals have asked questions about maintenance costs, logistics and ferry service. They said if The Boring Company selects Ketchikan for the project, those concerns will be addressed in time.
And even if Ketchikan’s proposal isn’t selected, Dial said the contest could better inform the borough for future fixed route options to Gravina Island.
“Look, face it, the chances that we’re going to get selected are probably pretty low. But what if, right? What if we get great information out of this, and if we get some good information out of this, it’s worth it, because the cost to us right now for entering in this contest is free,” Dial said.
If Ketchikan is selected, Dial believes The Boring Company will likely work with the state Department of Transportation and elected officials to determine if a tunnel between the two islands is feasible. Permitting will also be needed. And if the tunnel is brought to Ketchikan, Arntzen said the borough will work with the community to address any concerns before it’s built.
“So, the hope is that with good planning, with good strategies, with good partnerships, we can take that concept of the ‘Bridge to Nowhere’ and get us a ‘Tunnel to Somewhere,’’” Arntzen said.
The proposal has gained support from State Rep. Jeremy Bynum, the Ketchikan City Council, the Ketchikan Indian Community and other groups.
The contest winner will be announced on March 23.
Hunter Morrison is a Report for America corps member for KRBD. Your donation to match our RFA grant helps keep him writing stories like this one. Please consider making a tax-deductible contribution.
