Heavy equipment work planned at Matanuska Experiment Farm

August 3, 2020

Starting on Aug. 4, contractors will begin work to evaluate gravel resources on the Matanuska Experiment Farm and Extension Center property in Palmer.

The work will involve heavy equipment working near trails in the Matanuska Greenbelt Trail System that pass through university property. The work will start on Aug. 4 and continue for a few weeks. An excavator will dig multiple test pits and a drill rig will test subsurface conditions in nine boring locations. Contractors will fill the pits after testing. Other equipment will include trucks with trailers hauling in the equipment for clearing testing sites.

The assessment work is being done in response to budget reductions and a request from the University of Alaska Board of Regents that universities find ways to generate revenue from their property. As part of that effort, UAF has decided to evaluate the gravel resources at the Matanuska Experiment Farm and Extension Center. A contractor will assess two areas for potential future gravel extraction:

An existing gravel pit in the core area of the farm. This work will not affect the public.

A 70-acre area near the eastern property boundary. This work will be adjacent to frequently used trails.

Members of the public should avoid work areas, ensure that dogs are leashed, and yield to equipment and vehicles using the farm roads. No work is planned on the weekends.

Questions about the project can be directed to Julie Queen, vice chancellor for administrative services, at UAF-VCAdminServices@alaska.edu.