The proposed West Susitna Access Road (WSAR) that will connect exploration and development company US GoldMining’s proposed Whistler project with existing highway, rail, power and port infrastructure is making progress, with state funding having been set aside for the first portion of the road.

Late last month, the Alaska Department of Transportation and Public Facilities (DOT&PF) announced plans to include the first 24 km of the WSAR, including a major bridge over the Susitna river, in the draft ‘2024-2027 Statewide Transportation Improvement Programme’, with funding set aside for construction to begin in 2025, pending permitting.

Subsequent to that announcement, the Alaska Development and Export Authority announced it would continue working on a separate and additional portion of the WSAR, extending beyond the proposed DOT&PF road build to establish an industrial access corridor to several exploration and development projects in the West Susitna mining district, including the Whistler project.

The Matanuska-Susitna (MatSu) Borough Assembly recently also approved a resolution to pursue federal or state funding to convert 29 km of partially completed rail embankment into a paved road suitable for heavy haulage, which will link the DOT&PF planned portion of the WSAR with Port Mackenzie existing port facilities and infrastructure. 

“The state's and MatSu Borough's investment in the design, permitting and potential build of the proposed transportation corridor represents significant benefits to the state and people of Alaska in providing good jobs and economic opportunities via the future potential development of natural resources in the West Susitna mining district,” said US GoldMining CEO Tim Smith.

“Alaska's policy under Governor Dunleavy's administration of investing in critical infrastructure to stimulate growth in Alaska's economy was an important catalyst for US GoldMining to launch its highly successful IPO in April 2023.

State Governor Mike Dunleavy and DOT&PF commissioner Ryan Anderson recently visited the Whistler project and also toured the WSAR.

The Whistler project consists of several gold/copper porphyry deposits and exploration targets within a large regional land package totalling about 217.5 km².