Controversial National Wildlife Road Project Faces Federal Review

Key Takeaways

• A proposed Alaska road construction project would cut through the Izembek National Wildlife Refuge to connect King Cove to Cold Bay.
• Supporters cite improved emergency medical evacuation access and subsistence opportunities; opponents warn of environmental damage and threats to wildlife.
• The road would be the first built through ANILCA-protected lands, raising legal and conservation concerns.
• A land swap agreement between the federal government and the King Cove Corporation is under review by the Department of the Interior.

The Trump administration is likely to greenlight a proposed road project in Alaska that cuts through a crucial habitat for the state’s migratory bird population. The road would provide better access to inhabitants of a remote fishing village.

Alaska road project aims to improve emergency access

The 40-mile road would include a 10-mile span that would cross into the Izembek National Wildlife Refuge to connect King Cove to a larger airport in Cold Bay, that is outfitted to complete emergency medical evacuations in all types of weather. The New York Times reported that there have been 18 Kings Cove residents have died due to a lack of access to medical care.

Currently, Kings Cove is only accessible by marine and air routes, which are often compromised due to harsh weather and a short gravel airstrip unfit to manage the extreme weather conditions.

Officials in the Kings Cove Corporation support the proposed road construction project arguing that not only would it provide better medical access but also provide residents with more access to crucial hunting and fishing areas, as reported by KUCB.

Concerns over roadway’s environmental impact

Environmentalists claim that the Kings Cove road project will significantly impact the migratory bird population, which Alaskan Natives rely on for their food supply.

The wildlife refuge is home to the country’s largest population of eelgrass, which attracts emperor geese, Pacific black brant geese and Steller’s Eiders during their migration routes.

The road through the Izembek National Wildlife refuge was first proposed by the first Trump administration but was canceled by the Biden administration due to local backlash.

However, an alternative road infrastructure plan proposed by the Biden administration received similar criticism.

Road construction through federally protected lands

The land is currently protected through the Alaska National Interest Land Conservation Act and would be the first road constructed through ANILCA- protected lands, which according to environmentalists and Indigenous leaders sets a dangerous precedent for the future carving up of conservation land, according to KUCB.

The proposal requires a land swap between the Kings Cove corporation and the federal government, which would exchange land adjacent to the wildlife refuge for land needed to construct the roadway. The swap is currently under review by the U.S. Department of Interior.

The final decision rests with the Department of Interior, but environmental groups said that if the project is approved, they will continue to fight to protect the refuge, an attorney with the Trustees for Alaska told the New York Times.

The roadway proposal is part of a federal infrastructure package redistributing $183.4 million from U.S. Department of Transportation to the Alaska Department of Transportation & Public Facilities to support increased road infrastructure in Alaska, according to an announcement from U.S. Sen. Dan Sullivan.

The Izembek road proposal underscores the ongoing challenge of balancing critical infrastructure needs with environmental and cultural preservation. As federal agencies weigh the next steps, the outcome could shape how future projects navigate the intersection of access, conservation and community input.

Sources: KUCB, The Cool Down