the moose loop just got bigger

And a 15 million dollar fix is finally underway.

Construction kicked off Saturday on the long-awaited Coastal Trail to Ship Creek Trail connection. The new mile-long section reroutes the city's 32 mile Moose Loop near the small boat launch, away from the Alaska Railroad depot on First Avenue. Anchorage Metropolitan Area Transportation Solutions has been working this fix for years.

The full project tag is 15.6 million dollars. State and federal grants are covering most of it. The city is kicking in a 2.8 million dollar match from voter-approved bonds.

The connection also adds a brand new plaza at the small boat launch. That ties in the heritage of the original Athabascan fishing and travel route that ran through the area. The whole thing also plugs into the bigger Alaska Long Trail vision, the 500 mile route running from Seward all the way to Fairbanks.

For Anchorage walkers, runners, bikers, and dog walkers, this fills the most awkward gap in the entire city trail system. Completion is set for 2027 with more connections planned in Fish Creek and Eagle River right behind it.