For the last several decades it has been a little over 14 miles from one end of Sitka’s road system to the other. Over the July 4th weekend that became a little under 16 miles as the first section of the Katlian Bay road was opened to traffic.
The 9-mile proposed road was put to bid in 2019, ending at the head of Katlian Bay on land owned by the Shee Atika Native Corporation. The proposed cost, $32 million. The road was originally routed along the shoreline but because of considerations like wetland conservation, it climbs up a mountainside and, in many places, is blasted through rock. In 2022 the $32 million looked more like it would be $60 million. Extra money was appropriated but that too ran out. According to Senator Bert Stedman it may cost another$20 million plus several more million for bridges to complete. So, although the road is largely built, it lacks bridges to connect parts of it together.
While not quite a road to nowhere, it ends at a beautiful lookout near the mouth of Katlian Bay and passes another overlooking Mosquito Cover and Mt. Edgecumbe, it only goes 1.8 miles.
Suzi, Brian, Fiona and I drove to the very end of the road. Further than we had ever driven in Sitka before, to take in the views.
Please note that the white is quartz rock not snow. It was 65 degrees.