Homer Spit Storm Surge Emergency Response

Update January 21, 2024 The City of Homer Homer Spit Storm Surge Emergency Declaration elapsed on January 13, 2025. Fortunately, the weather has cooperated and there has been no new storm surge events since November. The Alaska Department of Transportation received authorization to extend the emergency revetment wall to connect it to a  shoreline hardening structure at the property of the Glacier D building.  The State expects contractors to begin work on that new section in mid-March 2025.

Update December 10, 2024 Alaska Department of Transportation's Project Manager reports that the contractor has completed the immediate repair and stabilization work that Alaska Department of Transportation has authorized to date.  The Contractor is now in the process of demobilizing its equipment. The extension of the rock revetment has been completed and terminates approximately 100 feet west of the Glacier D property.  The repaired section of Homer Spit Road was paved yesterday; the contractor will be adding center and fog lines in the next day or two. 

The City is monitoring forecasts for the next set of peak high tides occurring December 12^th-18^th, and while we are hoping for calm winds and seas, we are coordinating with the State to monitor the situation and stand ready to assist their contractor with any immediate response efforts needed.

The City has several upcoming meetings with Alaska Department of Transportation leadership to continue discussions about additional areas of storm surge vulnerability that could impact State road and right-of-way if not addressed in the near-term, as well as strategies for long-term mitigation planning.  

Update December 3, 2024 On November 27, Governor Mike Dunleavy issued a State Declaration of Disaster Emergency related to storm and wave damage to the Sterling Highway-Alaska Route 1 on the Homer Spit, as well as State of Alaska roads in Ninilchik. The Governor’s declaration waivers certain State permitting requirements for DOT&PF to respond and perform emergency repairs, and directs DOT&PF to work with the Federal Highways Administration to purse emergency relief funding for temporary and permanent repairs. The Governor's Declaration is attached below.

On Monday, December 2^nd, Mayor Lord convened a meeting with Homer Spit property owners and lessees impacted by the recent storm event to discuss the State's emergency repair work and plans. The meeting addressed both immediate and long-term challenges, as the situation affects city property, state right-of-way and several local businesses adjacent to and immediately beyond the planned end of the State's revetment extension project. 

On Tuesday, December 3^rd, the Mayor and City staff teleconferenced with Alaska Department of Transportation (ADOT) Commissioner Ryan Anderson, Deputy Commissioner Katherine Keith and Central Region Director Sean Holland to thank ADOT for their prompt and coordinated response to repair the road, share information about the State's continuing stabilization work, and discuss additional areas of storm surge vulnerability that could impact State road and right-of-way in future events if not addressed. We look forward to continuing the dialogue and coordinated action with the State!

Update November 26, 2024 Rock is still being delivered and staged on the Homer Spit through November 27^th for Alaska Department of Transportation's rock revetment extension project for the Homer Spit Road.  Contractor's will take a break for the Thanksgiving holiday, and return December 2^nd to begin construction.

Presently, there are no speed reductions on Homer Spit Road. The Spit Road will not be closed during construction, but motorists can expect short delays due to one-lane controlled traffic in the construction zone. 

For questions about the State’s emergency repair operations and plans, please contact Jason Baxley, Project Engineer with the Alaska Department of Transportation and Public Facilities at jason.baxley@alaska.gov or 907-242-4889.

Update November 22, 2024 Good news! The first phase of the State's emergency repairs is complete! It involved a temporary repair to a .8 mile stretch of the revetment rock that was breached by the storm and restoring Homer Spit Road in that area to two lanes.  This work was completed on November 19^th, with debris and road clean-up to be completed by November 22^nd. 

The second phase of the State temporary emergency repair is to extend revetment rock another 1,100 feet beyond where the revetment currently ends. The rock is being placed to protect a further section of Homer Spit Road that is vulnerable to damage from potential additional high tide storm surge events over the next four months.

The State provided a site map and structural section of their plans for the additional revetment.  It is attached below. The new revetment rock will end just before the turn-off to the Glacier D building, or at what used to be the City’s Tent Camp West location.  A neon-green mark has been painted on the side of the southbound Spit Road lane to indicate the current planned extent of the new revetment rock. For questions about the State’s emergency repair operations and plans, please contact Donny Greva, Project Engineer with the Alaska Department of Transportation and Public Facilities at 907-350-8401. 

This effort will require approximately 9,400 tons of material, which is presently being trucked and barged to Homer for staging. Watch for additional truck traffic on the Sterling Highway from Baycrest Hill to MP 177.7 and on Outer Dock Road in the Port and Harbor to MP 177.7 (see map below) through Wednesday, November 27, as contractors will be using those routes to deliver rock coming in by truck and barge. Motorists should obey speed reduction zones and be alert for trucks turning into Nick Dudiak Fishing Lagoon to stage equipment and rock material for the project.

Contractors anticipate their onsite construction work will begin December 2^nd and take at least three weeks to complete.  Construction hours will be intermittent around-the-clock, as this work can only be done at low tide. During that time, motorists can expect one-lane openings with flaggers and light plants for each flagger and work zone. Speed reductions are currently in place and will remain in place through the duration of the repair project. Beach users are asked to stay away from the revetment work zone when walking or recreating on the beach.

Important changes to Port & Harbor operations during the construction period:

1. A word of caution: Outer Dock Road will be used as a truck route for the transfer of rock offloaded at the Harbor’s Barge Ramp to staging areas in the Boat Trailer Parking  Lot behind the Load and Launch Ramp and in the Nick Dudiak Fishing Lagoon Parking Lot. Outer Dock Road is open for general use, but at times of material delivery, there will be a lot of truck traffic. We ask motorists to avoid using Outer Dock Road at those times.
2. The cordoned off staging area in the Boat Trailer Parking Lot is presently closed to the public. Boat trailer parking is still available, but it in the area further to the east from the Load and Launch Ramp. 
3. The Barge Ramp is open, but landings of equipment and materials associated with the State’s repair work is presently prioritized over other uses to facilitate timely storm damage repairs.  Customers needing access to the Barge Ramp should call the Harbormaster Office at 907-235-3160 to arrange.

Update November 20, 2024 By 7 pm this evening, the State contractor will have successfully repaired the Spit Road to allow traffic to drive on two lanes. The speed limit through the work zone has been reduced from 45 mph to 25 mph and again down to 15mph through the gravel patch at MP 177.6.

There will be additional road work tomorrow, Thursday, November 21 to complete shoulder clean up. Flaggers will be used with a one lane closure. 

Drivers are advised to heed Shoulder Closed signs and traffic control devices on sections of the road that the State has not yet worked on and that have steep drop offs between MP 176.8 to 177.9. Work in these areas will resume December 2nd, and is anticipated to continue for three weeks with one lane flagging. Intermittent road work will occur during low tide and tentatively around the clock with light plants for each flagger and work zone.

Watch for additional truck traffic on the Sterling Highway in December from Baycrest Hill to MP 177.7 and on Outer Dock Road in the Port and Harbor to MP 177.7 (see map below), as contractors will be using those routes to deliver rock coming in by truck and barge.

Update November 19, 2024 Alaska Department of Transportation reports that after a day of hard work, road repairs are well underway and the Homer Spit Road has improved significantly. More material will arrive tomorrow and they anticipate completing initial repairs and reopening both lanes of travel.  In the meantime, please continue to watch for reduced speeds, flaggers and trucks hauling materials.

Damage from the storm swell extend beyond the road.  The City of Homer will be meeting tomorrow with personnel from the Kenai Peninsula Borough Office of Emergency Management and the State of Alaska Emergency Operations Center to continue to document damage and develop a preliminary damage assessment.

Update November 18, 2024 Homer Spit Road at MP 177.6 is reduced down to one lane due to damage from the storm surge event from this past weekend. The Alaska Department of Transportation and Public Facilities is mobilizing contractor crews now to begin repair work tomorrow morning, November 19 to restore the road to two lanes. One lane will remain open to provide access to the Homer Spit. Please watch for reduced speeds, flaggers, and trucks hauling material.

Mayor Rachel Lord has issued a Declaration of Local Emergency in response to the significant storm surge damage impacting public and private property, utility infrastructure and the Homer Spit Road. Nearly a mile of the southbound lane of the Homer Spit Road suffered significant damage, which has reduced that section of the road to one lane only. The City’s response will require unexpected expenditures of public funds that will exceed the City’s available resources and requires coordination with State and potentially Federal partners. An emergency declaration is the first step in potentially accessing emergency resources and expediting protective measures for affected areas.

The Emergency Declaration will remain in effect for a period of seven days unless ratified by the Homer City Council or terminated earlier. Homer City Council’s next regular meeting will be November 25, 2024.

The City's Emergency Operations Center has been activated and the City is actively coordinating with the Alaska Department of Transportation and Public Facilities to facilitate State road repairs. Other immediate actions being taken include:

• traffic controls and reduced speed limit on the Homer Spit Road to ensure public safety;
• emergency repairs to threatened utility infrastructure;
• debris clearing; and
• continued damage assessment and recovery response planning.

The City appreciates the cooperation of the State and the community as we begin to repair and rebuild an important part of our community.

Update November 17, 2024 Please help us out! Our Public Works crew is out working hard to set up traffic controls, assess conditions and clear debris on the Spit. Soon State contractors will be working out there too. We ask everyone to refrain from traveling out there to look around so they’re not dodging cars and can get the work done effectively and safely. Thanks!

November 17, 2024.  As of 4 am Sunday, November 17^th the Spit Road is open. However, the Spit has sustained significant damage from the recent storm event.  A portion of the southbound lane of the Homer Spit Road has eroded, reducing the road width in places. Debris is on the Spit Trail, making for unsafe conditions.  Debris clean-up and assessments will be on-going through the near future.

People are asked to avoid travel on the Spit, except for folks who have residences or essential business on the Spit.

If you have to go to the Spit, please observe traffic controls and lowered speed limits.

The City of Homer is working with the Alaska Department of Transportation and Public Facilities to coordinate traffic control efforts and facilitate State road repairs.