Aurora Drive – Noyes Slough Bridge No. 209 Replacement

Projects

Client

Alaska Department of Transportation & Public Facilities

Timeline

2018–2024

Location

Fairbanks, Alaska

A freshly paved road with large white turn arrows, yellow lane lines, and a Road Closed barrier blocking the way ahead. Trees, power lines, and a speed limit sign are visible along the sides.
A concrete bridge with metal railings crosses over a calm river, with grass and trees displaying autumn colors nearby under an overcast sky.
A sidewalk runs beside a road with parked cars on the left. A green grass strip and autumn trees are on the right. In the distance, a green sign reads Soldotna under a cloudy sky.

Building Everyday Safety Into a Critical Neighborhood Connector

Innovative Design and Efficient Engineering for New Bridge

In Fairbanks, Alaska, the Noyes Slough Bridge along Aurora Drive needed a modern facelift—one that could balance hydraulic efficiency, environmental considerations, and roadway safety. Originally constructed in the early 1960s, the two-span bridge, measuring 103 feet long and 36 feet wide, had multiple deficiencies that made replacement a more practical option than rehabilitation. During the hydraulic study, RESPEC and HMM identified that the existing slough channel was wider than necessary for design flow, a result of the changing flow regime.

Hydrology Insights That Lead to Safer Day-to-Day Travel

An unexpected flood event provided valuable real-world data, allowing RESPEC to collect updated discharge measurements and refine the hydraulic model. Collaborating with Alaska Department of Transportation & Public Facilities’ Bridge Section, the design team developed a hydraulics and hydrology study that showed the bridge’s clear span could be shortened without increasing water surface elevations. This insight drove a series of smart design refinements: reducing the span to allow shallower girders, lowering the roadway profile, improving sight distance, and minimizing construction complexity — all while maintaining hydraulic performance and safety standards.

A Modern Bridge Built Around Community Safety and Daily Use

The replacement structure delivers safer travel, clearer visibility, and a geometry aligned with Aurora Drive’s transportation corridor rather than the oversized footprint shaped by historical flow conditions. The new bridge offers long-term reliability grounded in updated hydrology, efficient design, and everyday usability.