Blasting company seeks permit for crew trailers near Paxson Lake

Advanced Blasting Services is asking the state for permission to place up to seven travel trailers in a gravel pit off the Richardson Highway near Paxson Lake to house workers during a highway construction project this summer. The public can comment on the proposal through May 27, 2026.

The company wants to use the site at milepost 174, about one mile east of Paxson Lake, from May through September 2026. The trailers, ranging from 20 to 40 feet long, would provide lodging for crews working on the Richardson Highway milepost 167-173 construction project coordinated with the Alaska Department of Transportation and Public Facilities. Seasonal construction camps and temporary RV accommodations for work crews are a common feature of highway projects in rural Alaska, where lodging options near remote project segments are limited.

The Bureau of Land Management operates Paxson Lake Campground at milepost 175, drawing significant summer visitation for fishing, boating, and camping.

The Department of Natural Resources Division of Mining, Land and Water will review the application and may issue a permit with conditions for waste disposal, wastewater management, and site restoration.

Written comments must reach the Southcentral Regional Land Office at 550 W. 7th Ave., Suite 900C, Anchorage, AK 99501-3577 by 5:00 PM on May 27, 2026. Questions can be directed to John Forbes, Southcentral Regional Manager, at 907-269-5032 or [email protected].