Fairbanks, Alaska – Governor Sean Parnell attended the ribbon cutting ceremony for the Tanana River Bridge on Tuesday. The military as well as seasonal moose hunters will see benefits from increased access to remote areas.

The project was one of the first recommendations of the Alaska Military Force Advocacy and Structure Team (AMFAST), the group Governor Parnell created by administrative order to provide recommendations on retaining and building the state’s current military force capability.

More than three-fifths of a mile long, the bridge allows both wheeled-vehicle and train transport. It is designed to provide dependable, year-round access to the largest military training area in the United States – the Joint Pacific Alaska Range Complex.

“Beyond benefits to the military and our economy, this bridge will be a major benefit to the community of Salcha by stopping ice-jam flooding from destroying homes,” Governor Parnell said. “The bridge will also provide conditional and seasonal access to a hunting area that will make it possible for permitted and registered hunters to put meat in the freezer for their families.”

The bridge was built in partnership with the Department of Defense. The State of Alaska provided $84 million and the Department of Defense provided $104.2 million for the project. The Alaska Railroad completed the state’s longest bridge on time and on budget.

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