EconomyMat-Su · January 9, 2026
Left turns getting cut
The state plans turn-blocking medians on the Parks Highway in Wasilla, forcing U-turns instead of left turns.
Daily Alaska staff · January 9, 2026 · Mat-Su
The state of Alaska is planning turn-blocking medians along busy stretches of the Parks Highway in Wasilla, aiming to reduce crashes and improve traffic flow. Under the design, drivers would make U-turns at designated openings instead of turning directly across lanes, a traffic pattern already used in parts of Anchorage.
The project targets one of the Mat-Su Valley's most congested corridors, especially during commute hours and summer weekends. Fewer conflict points on the highway generally mean fewer crashes and less stop-and-go traffic for the drivers who use the route daily.
The change will also eliminate some existing shortcuts. Drivers trying to reach businesses or neighborhoods along the highway may need extra time to find the nearest median opening, depending on where the breaks are placed.
The shift represents a tradeoff between safety and convenience for daily commuters. For Wasilla, it marks a move toward treating the Parks Highway as a full urban arterial rather than a rural highway.
In this story
Questions people ask
Where is Alaska putting turn-blocking medians?
Along the Parks Highway in Wasilla.
Why is the state doing this?
To reduce crashes and improve traffic flow by cutting down on conflict points from direct left turns.
How will drivers turn left instead?
They'll make U-turns at designated median openings, a design already in use in parts of Anchorage.
When will the medians be built?
Not yet set. The story doesn't provide a timeline.
Evidence
Sources
Claims and where they come from
- The state is planning turn-blocking medians along the Parks Highway in Wasilla. · alaskapublic.org
- Drivers would make U-turns at designated openings instead of turning directly across lanes. · alaskapublic.org
- Similar median designs already exist in parts of Anchorage. · alaskapublic.org
Produced with AI assistance, narrated with Slav Lund's voice clone with his consent, and reviewed by a person before publishing. How we use AI →