Forest Fair Signs Down, Up Again
“Impouud” stickers appears on Forest Fair signs during the first day of the festival. Appraised of this development, a volunteer said the signs were also public expressions of art. (Photo by Soren Wuerth)
Forest Fair Signs Taken Down Day Before Event
By Soren Wuerth
TNews Editor
Dozens of colorful, quicky and instructive signs that line Alyeska highway every Forest Fair weekend were suddenly removed yesterday by transportation officials.
But, following a slew of angry comments and negotiations with DOT officials, the signs were back up Friday.
The signs have been a hallmark prelude for the summer festival, in its 50th year, and their disappearance caught many by surprise.
Longtime local resident Drew Motsinger, who retired from DOT, wrote on Girdwood's Facebook page that the state transportation department personnel removed the signs over right-of-way concerns, though DOT officials could not be reached during the holiday.
DOT took the signs down "due to the pedestrian crossing being painted by someone other than DOT", according to Motsinger, who later said he still keeps in touch with friends from the department.
Pedestrian lines at the intersection of Hightower and Alyeska Highway were painted in different colors this year and that triggered an inspection which led to the removal of nearby signs.
Motsinger said in his post the DOT is trying to be proactive, but he also understood the complaints of Forest Fair volunteers about the abrupt, unannounced removal of the signs.
"There's so much jay walking in town. That's obviously a problem and then there are so many people on their phones not paying attention and driving," he said Friday.
The Alaska Department of Transportation and Public Facilities (AK DOT&PF) was tipped off. to possible right-of-way violations after seeing the colored bars at the intersection of Hightower Road and Alyeska Highway, according to a retired AK DOT&PF employee. (Photo by Soren Wuerth)
In the past few years, the number of accidents involving pedestrians in Southcentral Alaska has grown significantly.
As a DOT employee, Motsinger was asked to take down crosses along the highway (he refused). "My motto was, 'You got friends and family on the road, you do the best you can," said Motsinger of his work to keep highways safe.
He decried the speed of traffic through Girdwood.
"They spent all this money to put flashing lights up, but people still blow right by ya," he said, referring to the Hightower/Alyeska intersection.
Motsinger also said he feared an escalation in traffic for imminent construction of the so-called "Holtan Hills" subdivision.
"With all these problems going on here (with traffic), it's going to be a disaster with Holtan Hills," Motsinger said. Municipality officials have yet to return calls and emails with questions about a traffic study and traffic plan in anticipation of Monday's construction.
Friday morning, Girdwood Fire Department Chief Michelle Weston announced on Facebook the signs were back, and, reached Friday, said Forest Fair organizers acted quickly to resolve the issue.
And although signs were thrown into the ditch beside the road and damaged, volunteers were able to patch them up and put them back along the side of the road, she said.
Besides traffic considerations, Weston offered additional advice for fair-goers.
"Don't bring dogs, it's too hot. Leave the dogs at home. Hydrate. And don't park in front of a fire hydrant," she said.
By 10 a.m. Friday, all the parking spots in Town Square were full, Weston said.
Weston also said there is a burn ban in effect due to high fire danger. The Municipality of Anchorage restricts fires to barbeques and elevated containers and does not permit fireworks.
"Put on your best Forest Fair vibes and just have patience and kindness for other people," Weston said.