Update: ‘Holtan Hills’ Road Construction Begins

An excavator is unloaded Monday near the Girdwood K-8 School. (Photos by Soren Wuerth)

By Soren Wuerth

TNews Editor

In a slight drizzle of rain Monday morning a group of concerned citizens stood outside a gate to the contentious "Holtan Hills" development. 

Then trucks began to roll in, first white trucks with men who jumped into "Hydro-Ax" mulchers. After a couple hours, the protesters left.

Then a gym-length tractor hauling an enormous excavator arrived. Later more machines rumbled through town down Hightower Rd. 

The first day of the city's 75-day contract with a major construction company—GMC Contracting—to drive a road, sewer, gas and electric into the forested hills behind Girdwood's school began with the staging of heavy equipment. 

Construction delays on the Seward Highway slowed traffic on the opening day foray.

Meanwhile, responses from municipal public officials to questions emailed last week regarding the project have not been answered as of late afternoon.

"Thank you for reaching out. We haven’t forgotten about you," wrote Kenny Friendly, a public involvement coordinator for the Municipality, said in an email Monday.

"We are currently fielding all public inquiries surrounding the project including yours. When we have the answers, we’ll get back to you as soon as possible," he wrote.

This is a developing story. Check back with TNews for updates.

Protesters gathered at the entrance to a controversial "Holtan Hills" development on the opening day of a $2 million road construction contract.