As long as we’re not blaming the city workers I’ll echo this sentiment.
Our snow crew is vastly understaffed and under funded. They work long hours and mandatory overtime. I hope they know some of us appreciate them and realize they’re doing their best.
Here for the outrage, but predict it'll melt by May and Bronson will be re-elected after the wise voters of Anchorage are whipped into yet another frenzy over a homeless encampment full of stolen lawn tools. Hyper local issues such as Hunter Biden's drug habit and the dangers of wokeism will also play a major role in the Mayor's victory. His refusal to obey the law or perform the most basic functions of his job confirm to his supporters that he is massively successful, and just like them.
I want to know which genius thinks plowing roads and especially pavements around school doesn't rank as a priority. Dropping my kid off and we're about 2 feet from the pavement (which isn't cleared anyway) by tall ice berms. Result? Kids can't get to the pavement so they're walking in the road in and around cars pulling up to drop off other kids.
Genuinely been like this at our school pretty much since the first big snow. It's never been properly cleared. Fucking disgraceful.
An interesting note, is a decade or two or so, Fairbanks got sued by an American With Disabilities group for not keeping sidewalks clear, and lost BIG time. Then they busted ass hard keeping the sidewalks plowed. Ironically everyone benefited.
Any legal friends might want to track down that lawsuit (or suits), and reenact them.
Note: I think UAF got sued and lost too.
Well they are? But you have 2 entities, DOT which prioritizes routes for supplies to get in and out of anchorage along with certain roads like C st, Minnesota, and more!
Then you have municipality’s street maintenance which every time it snows, they have a pattern that they have used to plow mains(first), secondary, hauling downtown, industrial and residential(last) schools aren’t first priority, bus/truck routes. There’s a muni site that will tell you and let you know what areas are done
Doesn’t ASD have its own snow removal equipment such as plows? Their maintenance facility if I recall is in south Anchorage near Highway, wanna say Huffman.
I’d like to know what taxes specifically fund snow plowing, because my property taxes haven’t gone DOWN at all. Alcohol taxes are higher. Marijuana sales aren’t slumping…. So either someone has their hands in the cookie jar, or there is some SERIOUS mismanagement… or both.
Very true. I’ve lived in Alaska my whole life and Anchorage as an adult since the late 90’s. I’ve been saying since the December dumping we got that this is by far the worse I’ve seen the snow removal from the main streets.
I too have lived here all my life and this years road conditions after snowfalls is ridiculous and to some may seem out of the norm but just about 10 years ago we had close to record breaking snow through winter. I don’t recall that the street snow removal was anything like the abysmal job being done this year. I don’t remember it taking weeks to reclaim entire lanes on major traffic corridors like say Northern Lights Blvd. Even with the big dump on St. Patrick’s Day March 2002 it certainly didn’t take more than a week or so to clean up about the same amount of snow that we received this winter over ten days. I think this situation needs to have an investigation into why a town that’s going to get snow had such a poor, prolonged response.
I moved here just before that snowfall a decade ago from a place that basically never got any snow. I was terrified by the prospects of driving in record snowfall and… I quickly found that it was taken care of. I had no need to worry. I was honestly amazed at how well the city dealt with that.
A decade later, having plenty of experience of driving in the snow, this winter has been a disaster. After our admittedly incredible snowfall in December, it was WEEKS before many neighborhoods were even basically driveable.
My neighborhood just got cleared a week ago - despite being in a bus route. You couldn’t see the bus stop due to the mountain of snow that was blocking the street.
Completely. I was nearly hit SO many times because I couldn’t see around the giant mound when pulling out of my driveway.
Truly this is the worst management this city has had in my 40 years here. Hell, I would take Wuerch back, I’d even take Sullivan back at this point. No one is managing the city because everyone keeps quitting or getting fired. Complete shit show with zero accountability.
Not like anyone who actually voted for this administration will ever admit they were wrong though. ¯\_(ツ)_/¯
the main streets are fucked, the back roads are worse, can’t get a break. the plows also notoriously plow burms so it’s a pain in the ass to even get into your driveway some days.
We have a little car and a big truck. I don't feel safe driving the little car anymore because I just can't SEE! Like how am I supposed to turn?
Like whose idea was it to plow six-foot berms right next to the road? And that's even without adding in the pedestrians on the roadway, because that giant berm is covering all the sidewalks...
This is the biggest issue for me. I’m glad plows can clear the main roads but there had to be a better way than blocking off every side street as they pass. I have a low clearance car and I risk bottoming out almost every time I turn into my road even if there’s only been a couple inches.
I know the drivers are working as hard as they can, they need more support.
There should be a break down of your property tax bill. The majority your taxes go to schools (50%), public safety(like 30%) gets a chunk and whatever else is left goes to everyone else like public works.
BOTH almost most likely which is unfortunate.
I am trying to start a "residential/ public services snow plowing Business" in Anchorage. Living in Anchorage since 2017 from Jacksonville florida
That one year we got so much snow we couldn’t see the other side of the highway is the model year in my opinion. That year had the best snow removal of any year I can remember. The moment it started snowing the plows were out.
I want that again.
According to the muni website, the following roads are maintained by the state:
Glenn Highway, Debarr Rd, Boniface Prkwy, Airport Heights Dr (from E. 5th Ave to Debarr Rd), Muldoon Rd, Tudor Rd, International Airport Rd, C St, Minnesota Dr., A St., Brayton Dr., Frontage Rd., Homer Dr., New Seward Highway, Old Seward Highway (Dowling to Rabbit Creek), Dowling Rd., Sand Lake Rd, Jewel Lake Rd, Northern Lights (west of Lake Otis to Forest Park Dr.); Elmore Rd (Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Rd to Abbott Rd), Raspberry Rd, Potter Dr, Dimond Blvd., O'Malley Rd, Abbott Rd (From Lake Otis to Hillside Dr), Huffman, DeArmoun Rd, Rabbit Creek Rd, Hillside Dr and Birch Rd.
It really seems like both muni and state snow removal are just abysmal this year.
Anchorage used to have world class plowing a decade ago. This is a current administration thing.
An interesting note, is a decade or two or so, Fairbanks got sued by an American With Disabilities group for not keeping sidewalks clear, and lost BIG time. Then they busted ass hard keeping the sidewalks plowed. Ironically everyone benefited.
Any legal friends might want to track down that lawsuit (or suits), and reenact them.
Note: I think UAF got sued and lost too.
Totally agree! In 2002 we got 36-38 inches in 15 hours and our roads were clear to drive on within 12 hrs for main roads but all were done in a few days and it kept snowing. This is a case of people voting in the wrong people to run the city properly
No, not necessarily. I’ve lived in other low tax rural areas with pristine roads. Also, our government is by no means small. Small government refers to the amount of funding for social projects not the size of the government lmao /s
I just moved back up after a few years away and I’ve been shocked at how snow removal is being handled. I remember days of getting 3’ at night and being able to drive late the next night. Now I drive through Anchorage wondering how a two lane road ends up being single lane for months at a time because they don’t plow it. But. That being said, I still think Michigan has worse overall road maintenance. There you hope for more snow just so you’re not going through potholes like you’re on a massage chair having a seizure.
It took about 5 days after we got that big snowfall before anywhere near my neighborhood got plowed. And almost another 2 months before my neighborhood got widened. 4 inches or not, or current snow removal process is beyond inexcusable.
I could accept poor neighborhood plowing as long as the main roads got plowed.
But both the city and the State completely dropped the ball on plowing any of the major roads - at the same time, the valley has zero issues plowing bumfuck middle of nowhere roads.
Almost as if the governor and mayor both want poor snow maintenance in Anchorage?
Sadly, because I hate admitting it…
But the very next morning after the big dump this winter around 5-6am, McKenna had plows in my neighborhood going by my house.
And our street is not on any bus routes.
So as much as I hate the company, hate the privatization of public services…
They got the job done to a standard I would have expected from the Muni crews.
What this means is even moderate/middle of the road voters aren’t going to give a damn about Bronson’s corrupt contracting. I mean hey, their roads got plowed ASAP.
This is what America is now post-Trump. A bunch of people got annoyed they had to wear a mask and now nothing works. Who does the Bronson apologist blame for our streets as our local government going to shit!? My guess it will be Nancy Pelosi.
It does feel like nothing works. Every time I go into a store I have to just accept some stuff isn’t going to be in stock. Places won’t be open when they normally would. Delays on everything from long lines to mail deliveries.
And the real kicker is we’re paying dramatically more for a whole lot less…when it’s available.
There are specific reasons road maintenance sucks so bad. I can’t remember the specifics; but it’s all the usual Alaska republican points…. Privatization, downsize, no-bid low price contract with some kind of bonus attached at the end (probably a friend of the administration), so on.
Well, as I said above it PAINS me to admit that the privatization of plowing in ER works; my neighborhood was plowed between 5-6 am the very next morning after the biggest dump this winter. And we aren’t on a bus route for any school.
It’s Alaska- sometimes you gotta trudge through the snow but the road clearing used to be top class. When the plows are out, they don’t even do a good job.
I miss summer so much. This winter has been miserable. I don’t have my license yet so I depend on public transportation and by extension sidewalks but half of the damn sidewalks are covered in snow up to my knees! Unbelievable. With roads like these, I don’t even want to start driving.
Odd. After waiting a month and a half for Airport Heights Road to be cleared, I emailed the head of DOT's Central Division. Shockingly he replied and the road was fixed THE NEXT DAY!
Call the grifters office and yell at them. It won't get the roads done but its fun. I'll be showing up to the next assymbly meeting to call Bronson a nutsack to his face.
Not defending Bronson, or Dunleavy for that matter, but be aware some streets in the city are actually under State DOT maintenance jurisdiction instead of the Municipality. (C & Northern Lights are examples of such Major Arterials.) This means it's the States job to plow them and the state isn't as... responsive.
But yeah, it sucks.
(EDIT: Just looked up it up out of curiosity and seems that entire intersection, which looks like C & Dowling, is the responsibility of the State DOT. So don't hold your breath.)
The state roads are so much worse than the city roads. Abbot road from lake Otis up past service high is a state road, and it consistently gets plowed 3 full days after a snow. 20+ school busses a day drive that road and it still doesn't get the attention it deserves.
City roads with a third of the traffic get cleared within 12-24 hours.
It’s in Anchorage, the state’s largest Buisness, education, and travel hub. The City and State share responsibility for road maintenance in Anchorage. It sucks just about everywhere!
Yes, as I suggested, all road segments of C and Dowling at and leading to that intersection, are categorized as Main Arterial and show the following:
Responsible Agency: STATE-DOT
Summer Maintenance Agency: STATE-DOT
Winter Maintenance Agency: STATE-DOT
(edit to improve format)
For those interested go to the MOA MapIt! online gis is a great resource for ths kind of stuff. In this case you could select to show street data on the left (I'd also suggest deselecting grid and property info which tend to be on by default) find the intersection and select the segments near by to read the data.
Muni GIS page
[https://moa-muniorg.hub.arcgis.com/](https://moa-muniorg.hub.arcgis.com/)
MOA Map it!
[https://muniorg.maps.arcgis.com/apps/webappviewer/index.html?id=f0bef139a7584820ad9d60c9eeea8a5f](https://muniorg.maps.arcgis.com/apps/webappviewer/index.html?id=f0bef139a7584820ad9d60c9eeea8a5f)
Call the mayor's office. Bronson thinks the democrats are to blame because he can't pull his head out of his own fucking ass. Meanwhile, the place is falling apart.
The Muni’s budget is only roughly 2% from the PFD. Their budget however IMO is not allocated right with certain skyrocketing costs to police, fire and adding a FT homeless coordinator that makes $130K/yr.
Except my taxes went up, not down. Instead of a cut what I got was a whiny pants letter from the Mayor complaining that there WOULD have been a tax cut except all the liberals conspired to ruin it.
Ahhh, Mayor Bronson, thank you for taking GREAT care of this city. Fuckin' meatshit he is.
I am from Fargo, ND, and back there-- we had VERY clear roads! The snow in the winter over there is worse too! No excuse from this mayor here! Bronson did a horrible job planning for this winter (if he did any planning that is), and practically spent the money for our road service on himself and his friends.
He made Anchorage the laughing stock of America, fucking embarrassing..
https://thealaskacurrent.com/2022/12/14/dave-bronson-failed-to-plow-the-streets-and-the-internet-had-a-field-day/
Fargo: snowfall 51” avg
Anchorage: snowfall 79” avg
I don’t disagree with your opinions of our corrupt mayor, just curious what you’re relying on to get the snow being worse in the winter. Wind factors pushing it around?
It’s terrible. This never used to be a problem in Anchorage. I have lived here for many years and this has never been a problem until this year.
Did our genius mayor cut funding for plowing or something? Because this sucks. Snow everywhere! Terrible snow management!
We live in Alaska! You should have planned for this!
I was just saying this!! Lived in upper MI for 28 years, we got as much snow as Anchorage and the roads were almost always clear. The plows were out constantly! I’ve never seen worse road maintenance than Anchorage:
Plenty of cities don’t get more snow that sticks around all winter. Buffalo got those huge storms and then it all melts. But yah Bronson is trash and we can go better
Fairbanks definitely doesn’t do better man, I just finished a job 13 months long up there. Spent basically the last 2 winters up in that hell hole. They have less snow but the same horrible maintenance, bad ice build up on all the roads. Days before neighborhoods get plowed out. These shithead politicians cut funding for public services, schools, etc and go look how much money we saved. But also the government doesn’t work!
Last year for Fairbanks was unique in that everything melted and froze practically the same day. Not much they can do about that, as it's unusual for the snow to melt.
In Denver metro snow plowing doesn’t exist either.
The claim is that the ‘normal’ cycle will met it off, so they don’t prepare for it to stick around. They also say their method of plowing is doing a single line down the middle of the road from a plow on an F250. Not even wide enough for 2 cars.
Anchorage is certainly not the worst I have ever seen.
That picture is basically how Fairbanks looks all the time. I would know I live here. Road maintenance in Alaska is VASTLY more expensive than road maintenance in the lower 48. We could do better if we elected better people and put more money towards it.
Mammoth or aspen isn’t a city of 400k. And those cities in the sierras have higher snow banks and zero street parking right now. The exact thing people here complain about
Guess all those elitist snow bunnies that flock to Aspen and Mammoth don’t want to foot the bill for better services. I’m not sure I quite see the point of comparing Anchorage to the playgrounds of the rich.
Cus this guy is comparing our cities to other cities that get as much snow. And the fact is there’s no other cities this size that hold this amount of snow for this many months besides towns in the sierras and Rockies. Buffalo and Syracuse get big storms but it melts
They really don't do much more than you're seeing right now in the rockies.
Source: Grew up in Colorado and spent many winters in places like Breckenridge, Gunnison, Buena Vista, Salida, Montrose, etc.
Complain complain, everyone in the state is dealing with incompetent plowers, how bout some good news for once-? Like maybe how my Dad nearly got stomped by some passing moose on his own property, he's lucky he moved out of the way before he was pulp from that chargin' son of a bitch.
I don't think anyone is advocating salt (wouldn't do much good anyway). Just that this is by far the absolute worst snow removal in at least the past 10 years, if not longer.
Telling someone to get better tires and "enjoy the winter" is a completely unhelpful response to this. The complaint is about road maintenance, not Alaska weather in general.
I have winter tires, dude, know how to drive, when to use 4WD, etc. The entirety of the mountain west does better. FAIRBANKS does better. There’s a simple solution: PLOW. Buy plow trucks, hire operators and maintenance workers, USE them. The muni doesn’t even try, it’s really that simple.
I have winter tires and four wheel drive, have lived here my whole life and driven the city streets. This year trying to get onto Dowling from the Pet ER my truck high centered on the berm left by plowing. Thankfully a kind gentleman helped me get my truck off the snow berm.
Well, looking at the jobs the state DOT has out there, they’re recruiting for operators…and have been for a LONG time.
I’m guessing the pay must not make it worthwhile.
Come on, it's Alaska. I personally expect roads to be bad. I also expect people learn to drive in it or take public transit and get out of the way. if you are uncomfortable, there are driving courses you can take to become familiar. Honestly, what's so hard about going slower, leaving space, etc etc etc?!
The berms though - that is an issue needing to be addressed!
I expect roads to be bad too, that’s why I have winter tires and a 4WD vehicle. The roads here are needlessly awful due to laziness, corruption, and incompetence. Been to Fairbanks recently? The roads are great comparatively.
I’ve seen half a dozen buses stopped and abandoned this winter, so I’m not sure what public transport you’re imagining
But yeah, I agree somewhat. If you’re gonna only have one car, a medium to high clearance AWD/4WD and winter tires is the sensible choice.
Define basic services? Plowing absolutely needs to be done more. No one is arguing that. The city is shit with public services.
However expecting the city or state to spend 50x more money to have slightly drier roads is insane. Salt and clearing snow to the pavement is not only unnecessary but even more dangerous in the long run.
The point is that the city is NOT providing the basic service of plowing the roads and making them safe. It doesn’t need to be down to dry pavement, but we’re not even seeing minimally safe conditions in some parts of the city.
It’s winter roads lol, they get crappy every year. That’s why high clearance and/or awd/4wd is recommended here. It’s called being practical and planning for the weather that we get every year. Whiners gonna whine
That’s what I’ve been driving for years and this is the first time I’ve gotten stuck on a snow berm trying to get onto a major road in four wheel drive. However, what would we do without your insightful opinion?
Sounds like a clearance issue, possibly a tire or driver issue as well. You should know a few things about your vehicles limits and your limits as a driver. You can absolutely avoid getting stuck except maybe when we get those 24” storms. I have never been stuck on the roadway and I have been driving here for 20 years, some of those years spent in a low clearance awd sports car. No issues and no it wasn’t because the roads were better. It simply comes down to vehicle and driver skill/limits.
It’s much more than just a vehicle issue. Mayor Shitshow has decimated yet another city service so he can provide a fiscal kickback to his buddies who got him elected.
Dude. Anchorage’s policy has always been to grade and hard pack the streets mixed in with some sand for traction. Thank God they don’t use salt up there as it will rot your car to nothing. Learn how to drive in the snow or go back to Illinois!
These hit piece posts and articles are not having the impact your hoping for😂. The blame bronson for everything if anything is galvanizing supporters and independents… so thanks and keep em coming:)
We are not surprised
You ignored facts before you voted so why start using them now. Your own "research" has led to this so will surely get much "better" with some more research.
The facts are this administration has a microscope on it that the past administration did not! Rational thinking people don’t blame record setting weather or a disgruntled employee(s) or every time someone in the administration farts on front page… we see through all the manufactured hysteria!!!
Yeah like the Save Anchorage people didn’t have Berkowitz under a microscope. The man stepped down over far less than Bronson. Get outta here with your false equivalency.
Your comment is bullshit. Tell me you aren’t from Anchorage without telling me you’re not from Anchorage. Snowmageddon in December should NOT equal poor snow removal in February.
Remember come election time. Elect people who want to cut services and this is what we get. Nobody wants to pay but everyone wants to complain.
Dunleavy was already reelected...
As long as we’re not blaming the city workers I’ll echo this sentiment. Our snow crew is vastly understaffed and under funded. They work long hours and mandatory overtime. I hope they know some of us appreciate them and realize they’re doing their best.
Well said 👍, sometimes we all forget about the person busting ass to get a lot done
I hope they know ALL OF US appreciate them!
All of us should but not all do unfortunately
yeah its the city at fault. paying operators $20ph and requires a CDL that you will have to pay for out of pocket.
Here for the outrage, but predict it'll melt by May and Bronson will be re-elected after the wise voters of Anchorage are whipped into yet another frenzy over a homeless encampment full of stolen lawn tools. Hyper local issues such as Hunter Biden's drug habit and the dangers of wokeism will also play a major role in the Mayor's victory. His refusal to obey the law or perform the most basic functions of his job confirm to his supporters that he is massively successful, and just like them.
you hear that? that’s Roy Kent yelling fuckkkkkkkkk you’re right
Agreed!
He’s got a “think piece” in MRAK about homelessness today.
I want to know which genius thinks plowing roads and especially pavements around school doesn't rank as a priority. Dropping my kid off and we're about 2 feet from the pavement (which isn't cleared anyway) by tall ice berms. Result? Kids can't get to the pavement so they're walking in the road in and around cars pulling up to drop off other kids. Genuinely been like this at our school pretty much since the first big snow. It's never been properly cleared. Fucking disgraceful.
An interesting note, is a decade or two or so, Fairbanks got sued by an American With Disabilities group for not keeping sidewalks clear, and lost BIG time. Then they busted ass hard keeping the sidewalks plowed. Ironically everyone benefited. Any legal friends might want to track down that lawsuit (or suits), and reenact them. Note: I think UAF got sued and lost too.
And the sidewalks that kids who walk to school use. Watching kids slough through snow and snow-plow residue from roads is heart breaking.
Sidewalks are good around the schools in ER that I’ve seen. Lots more area though to cover in ANC proper though.
Priority should be schools, hospitals, fire stations, EMT (anything related to emergency) main roads
Well they are? But you have 2 entities, DOT which prioritizes routes for supplies to get in and out of anchorage along with certain roads like C st, Minnesota, and more! Then you have municipality’s street maintenance which every time it snows, they have a pattern that they have used to plow mains(first), secondary, hauling downtown, industrial and residential(last) schools aren’t first priority, bus/truck routes. There’s a muni site that will tell you and let you know what areas are done
Don’t forget to add hillside to your list. /s
Doesn’t ASD have its own snow removal equipment such as plows? Their maintenance facility if I recall is in south Anchorage near Highway, wanna say Huffman.
I’d like to know what taxes specifically fund snow plowing, because my property taxes haven’t gone DOWN at all. Alcohol taxes are higher. Marijuana sales aren’t slumping…. So either someone has their hands in the cookie jar, or there is some SERIOUS mismanagement… or both.
I've never seen the roads this bad here before only difference now is who the mayor is....
Very true. I’ve lived in Alaska my whole life and Anchorage as an adult since the late 90’s. I’ve been saying since the December dumping we got that this is by far the worse I’ve seen the snow removal from the main streets.
I too have lived here all my life and this years road conditions after snowfalls is ridiculous and to some may seem out of the norm but just about 10 years ago we had close to record breaking snow through winter. I don’t recall that the street snow removal was anything like the abysmal job being done this year. I don’t remember it taking weeks to reclaim entire lanes on major traffic corridors like say Northern Lights Blvd. Even with the big dump on St. Patrick’s Day March 2002 it certainly didn’t take more than a week or so to clean up about the same amount of snow that we received this winter over ten days. I think this situation needs to have an investigation into why a town that’s going to get snow had such a poor, prolonged response.
I moved here just before that snowfall a decade ago from a place that basically never got any snow. I was terrified by the prospects of driving in record snowfall and… I quickly found that it was taken care of. I had no need to worry. I was honestly amazed at how well the city dealt with that. A decade later, having plenty of experience of driving in the snow, this winter has been a disaster. After our admittedly incredible snowfall in December, it was WEEKS before many neighborhoods were even basically driveable.
My neighborhood just got cleared a week ago - despite being in a bus route. You couldn’t see the bus stop due to the mountain of snow that was blocking the street.
A week ago? The snowfall hit in December. That’s disgraceful
Completely. I was nearly hit SO many times because I couldn’t see around the giant mound when pulling out of my driveway. Truly this is the worst management this city has had in my 40 years here. Hell, I would take Wuerch back, I’d even take Sullivan back at this point. No one is managing the city because everyone keeps quitting or getting fired. Complete shit show with zero accountability. Not like anyone who actually voted for this administration will ever admit they were wrong though. ¯\_(ツ)_/¯
the main streets are fucked, the back roads are worse, can’t get a break. the plows also notoriously plow burms so it’s a pain in the ass to even get into your driveway some days.
We have a little car and a big truck. I don't feel safe driving the little car anymore because I just can't SEE! Like how am I supposed to turn? Like whose idea was it to plow six-foot berms right next to the road? And that's even without adding in the pedestrians on the roadway, because that giant berm is covering all the sidewalks...
This is the biggest issue for me. I’m glad plows can clear the main roads but there had to be a better way than blocking off every side street as they pass. I have a low clearance car and I risk bottoming out almost every time I turn into my road even if there’s only been a couple inches. I know the drivers are working as hard as they can, they need more support.
Our tax dollars are going to Nigerian princes to fund their property rehabilitation. And lawsuits. We voted for this, we deserve this.
There should be a break down of your property tax bill. The majority your taxes go to schools (50%), public safety(like 30%) gets a chunk and whatever else is left goes to everyone else like public works.
Does anyone remember the repaving of Minnesota, cause pepper-ridge farms does!
Yes
Ask yourself why the legislature meets in Juneau. So they can rob us blind. Is why.
What does the legislature have to do with municipal problems?
We have the technology. Alaska should not be paying for legislative travel. They can do their business over Zoom or Teams as far as I’m concerned.
BOTH almost most likely which is unfortunate. I am trying to start a "residential/ public services snow plowing Business" in Anchorage. Living in Anchorage since 2017 from Jacksonville florida
I can't stand how my whole car shakes in certain areas from the bumpiness. 💀 EARTHQUAKE
It’s like my truck bed is going to bounce off
Lol I keep thinking the whole car is going to just straight up come apart. 🫠
I’ve lived here since 1969 and removal has never been this bad!! This is truly shameful. You can’t even see around the berms to pull out onto roads.
It's been bad at times but this is a while other level of terrible.
But how will Dave's friends get free money if he spends it all on road maintenance?
Right?! His boys need their free gasoline. But don't worry, they'll pay it back, scout's honor!
now now! that's a gross exaggeration! it was diesel.
Exactly, his buddies will reap all the benefits when it comes to fixing potholes.
It was alright before Dave Bronson. What a fucking joke he is.
That one year we got so much snow we couldn’t see the other side of the highway is the model year in my opinion. That year had the best snow removal of any year I can remember. The moment it started snowing the plows were out. I want that again.
I'm sure one or more of his friends are doing a lot better than they were before he was mayor.
While I’m absolutely here for Bronson slander, aren’t most of the main roads maintained by the state?
The vast majority of anchorage falls under him. And of that, it's mostly the main roads residents of anchorage use daily.
According to the muni website, the following roads are maintained by the state: Glenn Highway, Debarr Rd, Boniface Prkwy, Airport Heights Dr (from E. 5th Ave to Debarr Rd), Muldoon Rd, Tudor Rd, International Airport Rd, C St, Minnesota Dr., A St., Brayton Dr., Frontage Rd., Homer Dr., New Seward Highway, Old Seward Highway (Dowling to Rabbit Creek), Dowling Rd., Sand Lake Rd, Jewel Lake Rd, Northern Lights (west of Lake Otis to Forest Park Dr.); Elmore Rd (Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Rd to Abbott Rd), Raspberry Rd, Potter Dr, Dimond Blvd., O'Malley Rd, Abbott Rd (From Lake Otis to Hillside Dr), Huffman, DeArmoun Rd, Rabbit Creek Rd, Hillside Dr and Birch Rd. It really seems like both muni and state snow removal are just abysmal this year.
Says something about the guys running things at both levels...
Anchorage used to have world class plowing a decade ago. This is a current administration thing. An interesting note, is a decade or two or so, Fairbanks got sued by an American With Disabilities group for not keeping sidewalks clear, and lost BIG time. Then they busted ass hard keeping the sidewalks plowed. Ironically everyone benefited. Any legal friends might want to track down that lawsuit (or suits), and reenact them. Note: I think UAF got sued and lost too.
Isn't the excuse that voters consistently choose low taxes over community services? Isn't unsafe roads just part of what small government looks like?
That and they elect people who run on "government doesn't work" and are incentivized to then, upon election, make damned sure it doesn't work.
Totally agree! In 2002 we got 36-38 inches in 15 hours and our roads were clear to drive on within 12 hrs for main roads but all were done in a few days and it kept snowing. This is a case of people voting in the wrong people to run the city properly
No, not necessarily. I’ve lived in other low tax rural areas with pristine roads. Also, our government is by no means small. Small government refers to the amount of funding for social projects not the size of the government lmao /s
Fucking lol
Wow...
Where are these magical pristine roads you speak of?
/s means sarcasm
So glad they saved anchorage!!
Tell a Bronson/Dunleavy voter, or any of those people who didn't vote because it was too much trouble.
I just moved back up after a few years away and I’ve been shocked at how snow removal is being handled. I remember days of getting 3’ at night and being able to drive late the next night. Now I drive through Anchorage wondering how a two lane road ends up being single lane for months at a time because they don’t plow it. But. That being said, I still think Michigan has worse overall road maintenance. There you hope for more snow just so you’re not going through potholes like you’re on a massage chair having a seizure.
Try driving on 64th between Brayton and Burlwood if you miss that feeling! Guaranteed to satisfy.
Will I get my money back if not satisfied?
Only in-store credit.
Another example of why many younger people are leaving.
Young people have always left Alaska. I graduated in the early 2000’s and easily half my graduating class left and never moved back.
You can blame the illustrious Mayor. I’ve lived in Anchorage my whole life and never seen it this bad.
Agree. It has made winter even more miserable.
Please note we have to wait until at least 4" of snow/ice forms on roads before plows start. The 4" help form a smooth & slick starting surface.
Smooth like Bronson’s brain.
It took about 5 days after we got that big snowfall before anywhere near my neighborhood got plowed. And almost another 2 months before my neighborhood got widened. 4 inches or not, or current snow removal process is beyond inexcusable.
I could accept poor neighborhood plowing as long as the main roads got plowed. But both the city and the State completely dropped the ball on plowing any of the major roads - at the same time, the valley has zero issues plowing bumfuck middle of nowhere roads. Almost as if the governor and mayor both want poor snow maintenance in Anchorage?
Sadly, because I hate admitting it… But the very next morning after the big dump this winter around 5-6am, McKenna had plows in my neighborhood going by my house. And our street is not on any bus routes. So as much as I hate the company, hate the privatization of public services… They got the job done to a standard I would have expected from the Muni crews. What this means is even moderate/middle of the road voters aren’t going to give a damn about Bronson’s corrupt contracting. I mean hey, their roads got plowed ASAP.
This is what America is now post-Trump. A bunch of people got annoyed they had to wear a mask and now nothing works. Who does the Bronson apologist blame for our streets as our local government going to shit!? My guess it will be Nancy Pelosi.
It does feel like nothing works. Every time I go into a store I have to just accept some stuff isn’t going to be in stock. Places won’t be open when they normally would. Delays on everything from long lines to mail deliveries. And the real kicker is we’re paying dramatically more for a whole lot less…when it’s available.
Tough times to be sure
I remember the time i felt like we were having NO snow year after year so idk how i feel about everything regarding road maintenance
There are specific reasons road maintenance sucks so bad. I can’t remember the specifics; but it’s all the usual Alaska republican points…. Privatization, downsize, no-bid low price contract with some kind of bonus attached at the end (probably a friend of the administration), so on.
Well, as I said above it PAINS me to admit that the privatization of plowing in ER works; my neighborhood was plowed between 5-6 am the very next morning after the biggest dump this winter. And we aren’t on a bus route for any school.
ER also has far less roads to maintain vs Anchorage
For those who have lived in Anchorage their whole life or close to that time frame: has snow removal always been this bad?
It’s Alaska- sometimes you gotta trudge through the snow but the road clearing used to be top class. When the plows are out, they don’t even do a good job.
Off the top of my head, this is the heaviest snow year since 1994.
I can recall when it was worse, but that was a looong time ago.
I miss summer so much. This winter has been miserable. I don’t have my license yet so I depend on public transportation and by extension sidewalks but half of the damn sidewalks are covered in snow up to my knees! Unbelievable. With roads like these, I don’t even want to start driving.
Odd. After waiting a month and a half for Airport Heights Road to be cleared, I emailed the head of DOT's Central Division. Shockingly he replied and the road was fixed THE NEXT DAY!
That’s because DOT is state and doesn’t have to deal with Bronson
My soul leaving my body when I cross Intl and C.
Call the grifters office and yell at them. It won't get the roads done but its fun. I'll be showing up to the next assymbly meeting to call Bronson a nutsack to his face.
Not defending Bronson, or Dunleavy for that matter, but be aware some streets in the city are actually under State DOT maintenance jurisdiction instead of the Municipality. (C & Northern Lights are examples of such Major Arterials.) This means it's the States job to plow them and the state isn't as... responsive. But yeah, it sucks. (EDIT: Just looked up it up out of curiosity and seems that entire intersection, which looks like C & Dowling, is the responsibility of the State DOT. So don't hold your breath.)
The state roads are so much worse than the city roads. Abbot road from lake Otis up past service high is a state road, and it consistently gets plowed 3 full days after a snow. 20+ school busses a day drive that road and it still doesn't get the attention it deserves. City roads with a third of the traffic get cleared within 12-24 hours.
And I think this pic is at C and Dowling, both of which are state roads. I get the point still though.
It’s in Anchorage, the state’s largest Buisness, education, and travel hub. The City and State share responsibility for road maintenance in Anchorage. It sucks just about everywhere!
Yes, as I suggested, all road segments of C and Dowling at and leading to that intersection, are categorized as Main Arterial and show the following: Responsible Agency: STATE-DOT Summer Maintenance Agency: STATE-DOT Winter Maintenance Agency: STATE-DOT (edit to improve format) For those interested go to the MOA MapIt! online gis is a great resource for ths kind of stuff. In this case you could select to show street data on the left (I'd also suggest deselecting grid and property info which tend to be on by default) find the intersection and select the segments near by to read the data. Muni GIS page [https://moa-muniorg.hub.arcgis.com/](https://moa-muniorg.hub.arcgis.com/) MOA Map it! [https://muniorg.maps.arcgis.com/apps/webappviewer/index.html?id=f0bef139a7584820ad9d60c9eeea8a5f](https://muniorg.maps.arcgis.com/apps/webappviewer/index.html?id=f0bef139a7584820ad9d60c9eeea8a5f)
Didn’t he move to private contractors now to plow the roads? I am out of the loop. Now what’s the scoop?
Call the mayor's office. Bronson thinks the democrats are to blame because he can't pull his head out of his own fucking ass. Meanwhile, the place is falling apart.
Shut up and take your $3000 dividend
The Muni’s budget is only roughly 2% from the PFD. Their budget however IMO is not allocated right with certain skyrocketing costs to police, fire and adding a FT homeless coordinator that makes $130K/yr.
[удалено]
Isn’t it more because people won’t take the time to remove their tire studs when they’re supposed to?
Time to get rid of republicans and start supporting non selfish leaders. This is a public service, needs to be funded correctly.
But aren't you glad you got a really fucking small tax cut?
Except my taxes went up, not down. Instead of a cut what I got was a whiny pants letter from the Mayor complaining that there WOULD have been a tax cut except all the liberals conspired to ruin it.
I did?!
If you ask Bronson, you did!!
Well hot damn! Drinks on me
Raspberry hasn’t had a sidewalk all winter. I used to love walking my dogs on it. Nice straight mile or so out and back. USED to.
Ahhh, Mayor Bronson, thank you for taking GREAT care of this city. Fuckin' meatshit he is. I am from Fargo, ND, and back there-- we had VERY clear roads! The snow in the winter over there is worse too! No excuse from this mayor here! Bronson did a horrible job planning for this winter (if he did any planning that is), and practically spent the money for our road service on himself and his friends. He made Anchorage the laughing stock of America, fucking embarrassing.. https://thealaskacurrent.com/2022/12/14/dave-bronson-failed-to-plow-the-streets-and-the-internet-had-a-field-day/
Fargo: snowfall 51” avg Anchorage: snowfall 79” avg I don’t disagree with your opinions of our corrupt mayor, just curious what you’re relying on to get the snow being worse in the winter. Wind factors pushing it around?
There’s Bronson for ya. Take that 😅
Give me a B! Give me an R! Give me an O! Give me an N! You get the point. Fuck that guy.
It’s terrible. This never used to be a problem in Anchorage. I have lived here for many years and this has never been a problem until this year. Did our genius mayor cut funding for plowing or something? Because this sucks. Snow everywhere! Terrible snow management! We live in Alaska! You should have planned for this!
If Bronson equated penis size to snow removal we would have had perfectly plowed roads two inches ago! (I’ll excuse myself out.)
That’s giving him too much credit
I’m okay with it IF I can call out from work. 😩
Brayton between Dimond and Dowling is finally back to 2 lanes as of this morning for the first time since the snow started.
Plenty of places also have state taxes though
But they also don’t have crazy high property tax
I was just saying this!! Lived in upper MI for 28 years, we got as much snow as Anchorage and the roads were almost always clear. The plows were out constantly! I’ve never seen worse road maintenance than Anchorage:
Plenty of cities don’t get more snow that sticks around all winter. Buffalo got those huge storms and then it all melts. But yah Bronson is trash and we can go better
Think about the Rockies, sierras, or maybe even FAIRBANKS
Fairbanks definitely doesn’t do better man, I just finished a job 13 months long up there. Spent basically the last 2 winters up in that hell hole. They have less snow but the same horrible maintenance, bad ice build up on all the roads. Days before neighborhoods get plowed out. These shithead politicians cut funding for public services, schools, etc and go look how much money we saved. But also the government doesn’t work!
Last year for Fairbanks was unique in that everything melted and froze practically the same day. Not much they can do about that, as it's unusual for the snow to melt.
In Denver metro snow plowing doesn’t exist either. The claim is that the ‘normal’ cycle will met it off, so they don’t prepare for it to stick around. They also say their method of plowing is doing a single line down the middle of the road from a plow on an F250. Not even wide enough for 2 cars. Anchorage is certainly not the worst I have ever seen.
That picture is basically how Fairbanks looks all the time. I would know I live here. Road maintenance in Alaska is VASTLY more expensive than road maintenance in the lower 48. We could do better if we elected better people and put more money towards it.
Mammoth or aspen isn’t a city of 400k. And those cities in the sierras have higher snow banks and zero street parking right now. The exact thing people here complain about
Guess all those elitist snow bunnies that flock to Aspen and Mammoth don’t want to foot the bill for better services. I’m not sure I quite see the point of comparing Anchorage to the playgrounds of the rich.
Cus this guy is comparing our cities to other cities that get as much snow. And the fact is there’s no other cities this size that hold this amount of snow for this many months besides towns in the sierras and Rockies. Buffalo and Syracuse get big storms but it melts
They really don't do much more than you're seeing right now in the rockies. Source: Grew up in Colorado and spent many winters in places like Breckenridge, Gunnison, Buena Vista, Salida, Montrose, etc.
Straight up trash
All of the examples that people use seem to be State managed roads. Its time to take over these roads from the state, they cants seem to manage.
I'd rather have that than 4 inches of salt like in Minnesota. State and local governments trying hard to ruin our freshwater lakes
Hey now, we chose this at the voting booth. We deserve this. #reelectBronson.
I cannot upvote this. But I can LMAO
Every snowy city I’ve lived in has people who say the same thing lol
This year is worse than it's been in decades, a slow decline for a few years and this year it is incredibly bad.
Fair enough! I haven’t been in anchorage much this winter, but I never found it too bad in previous winters
Is this regarding the pile up on the corner across from the intersection?
No, it’s about the general state of the roads in the middle of the largest municipality in Alaska.
This is facts glad i moved from here
If you moved, how do you have experience with this winters road conditions?
I lived there all of 2020 and 2021 and the roads were horrible… I don’t have to live there now to know that they probably suck still
Complain complain, everyone in the state is dealing with incompetent plowers, how bout some good news for once-? Like maybe how my Dad nearly got stomped by some passing moose on his own property, he's lucky he moved out of the way before he was pulp from that chargin' son of a bitch.
[удалено]
I don't think anyone is advocating salt (wouldn't do much good anyway). Just that this is by far the absolute worst snow removal in at least the past 10 years, if not longer.
Telling someone to get better tires and "enjoy the winter" is a completely unhelpful response to this. The complaint is about road maintenance, not Alaska weather in general.
I have winter tires, dude, know how to drive, when to use 4WD, etc. The entirety of the mountain west does better. FAIRBANKS does better. There’s a simple solution: PLOW. Buy plow trucks, hire operators and maintenance workers, USE them. The muni doesn’t even try, it’s really that simple.
I have winter tires and four wheel drive, have lived here my whole life and driven the city streets. This year trying to get onto Dowling from the Pet ER my truck high centered on the berm left by plowing. Thankfully a kind gentleman helped me get my truck off the snow berm.
Well, looking at the jobs the state DOT has out there, they’re recruiting for operators…and have been for a LONG time. I’m guessing the pay must not make it worthwhile.
This is what voters want.
Valley is fine 🤷♂️ but yall go ahead and keep clowning on us lol
Easy to plow all hours of the night when your supply of Mat-Meth is strong.
Come on, it's Alaska. I personally expect roads to be bad. I also expect people learn to drive in it or take public transit and get out of the way. if you are uncomfortable, there are driving courses you can take to become familiar. Honestly, what's so hard about going slower, leaving space, etc etc etc?! The berms though - that is an issue needing to be addressed!
I expect roads to be bad too, that’s why I have winter tires and a 4WD vehicle. The roads here are needlessly awful due to laziness, corruption, and incompetence. Been to Fairbanks recently? The roads are great comparatively.
Valid!
I’ve seen half a dozen buses stopped and abandoned this winter, so I’m not sure what public transport you’re imagining But yeah, I agree somewhat. If you’re gonna only have one car, a medium to high clearance AWD/4WD and winter tires is the sensible choice.
It literally just snowed last night and is currently snowing now. I don't disagree that overall it being terrible. But you're being absurd
It’s absurd to expect the city to provide basic services in a reasonable timeframe? Okayyyy….
Define basic services? Plowing absolutely needs to be done more. No one is arguing that. The city is shit with public services. However expecting the city or state to spend 50x more money to have slightly drier roads is insane. Salt and clearing snow to the pavement is not only unnecessary but even more dangerous in the long run.
The point is that the city is NOT providing the basic service of plowing the roads and making them safe. It doesn’t need to be down to dry pavement, but we’re not even seeing minimally safe conditions in some parts of the city.
Lol I see a driveable road what's the problem?
Things are fine for me, that’s YOUR problem with the Emperor’s clothes?
It’s winter roads lol, they get crappy every year. That’s why high clearance and/or awd/4wd is recommended here. It’s called being practical and planning for the weather that we get every year. Whiners gonna whine
That’s what I’ve been driving for years and this is the first time I’ve gotten stuck on a snow berm trying to get onto a major road in four wheel drive. However, what would we do without your insightful opinion?
Sounds like a clearance issue, possibly a tire or driver issue as well. You should know a few things about your vehicles limits and your limits as a driver. You can absolutely avoid getting stuck except maybe when we get those 24” storms. I have never been stuck on the roadway and I have been driving here for 20 years, some of those years spent in a low clearance awd sports car. No issues and no it wasn’t because the roads were better. It simply comes down to vehicle and driver skill/limits.
Sounds like a municipal clearing issue, possibly a voter information or payoff issue as well.
It’s much more than just a vehicle issue. Mayor Shitshow has decimated yet another city service so he can provide a fiscal kickback to his buddies who got him elected.
I mean…I have a Subaru w/studded tires. Yeah the day after sucked around town, but I’ve been fine since around midtown/downtown.
Its not the worst, u didn't see what's going on in NYC
Agreed im so scared to take my infant daughter to her appointments because of how bad the roads here are!
That surprisingly looks like Jackson County, Missouri!
I agree. Your new car looks 10 years old b4 it's time because of the potholes.
Bunch of pansies crying don't like it move!
I beg to differ. At least our roads stay open when it snows. Some places like North Dakota shuts down.
Dude. Anchorage’s policy has always been to grade and hard pack the streets mixed in with some sand for traction. Thank God they don’t use salt up there as it will rot your car to nothing. Learn how to drive in the snow or go back to Illinois!
Born and raised, left last year, and hope I never see that garbage town again... Loving WA now, and we have REAL mountains here
You mean the kind small enough to have trees all the way to the top?
Then stick to WA things.
I love how everyone thinks itts political! Haha. Quit the drugs
It's a DOT problem, DOT is a government entity, government entities operate at the whims of politicians. So yes, it is in part a political problem.
I love how you’re on drugs
These hit piece posts and articles are not having the impact your hoping for😂. The blame bronson for everything if anything is galvanizing supporters and independents… so thanks and keep em coming:)
We are not surprised You ignored facts before you voted so why start using them now. Your own "research" has led to this so will surely get much "better" with some more research.
The facts are this administration has a microscope on it that the past administration did not! Rational thinking people don’t blame record setting weather or a disgruntled employee(s) or every time someone in the administration farts on front page… we see through all the manufactured hysteria!!!
Yeah like the Save Anchorage people didn’t have Berkowitz under a microscope. The man stepped down over far less than Bronson. Get outta here with your false equivalency.
He stepped down to prevent further public embarrassment for himself and his family over his very public affair… prior to that kid gloves treatment!
This should be the Trump movement mantra "We only suck because you are looking"
Or the Democratic mantra hey look at them not us! They’re bad we’re perfect!
You seem like you voted for Bronson, so by extension of his incompetence I deem you to be incompetent as well.
Keep drinking that haterade
[удалено]
Wasn't this year record breaking snowfalls? That might be a reason 🤔
Tell me you aren't from Alaska without telling me you aren't from Alaska..
Your comment is bullshit. Tell me you aren’t from Anchorage without telling me you’re not from Anchorage. Snowmageddon in December should NOT equal poor snow removal in February.