After decades of resistance from a coalition of radical climate activists, the State of Alaska has received final federal approval to build roughly 12 new miles of a single-lane, low-speed gravel road connecting the communities of King Cove and Cold Bay in remote Southwest Alaska.
Gov. Mike Dunleavy announced the major milestone on July 10, noting that the project will finally connect King Cove to the all-weather airport in Cold Bay, ensuring residents have dependable access to emergency medical transportation regardless of weather conditions.
“This is a historic day for the people of King Cove and the people of Alaska,” Dunleavy noted. “I want to thank President Trump and his administration for putting the people of Alaska first and allowing this road to become a reality.”
While local residents have long pushed for the road, a coalition of prominent environmental organizations has mounted strong, sustained opposition, arguing that the 12-miles of new gravel road would irreparably damage bird habitats in the vast Alaska wilderness.
The Sierra Club has led the charge, joined by numerous allied environmentalist groups. A November 2025 lawsuit challenged the key federal land exchange needed to build the road.
Over the years, numerous medical evacuations have been delayed or cancelled because weather conditions made marine crossings or flights to and from King Cove unsafe.
Other left-leaning climate groups opposing the road have been Defenders of Wildlife, Earth Justice and Center for Biological Diversity, National Audubon Society, Wilderness Watch, and Trustees for Alaska.
These environmentalists argue that the road would bisect the 307,982-acre Izembek Wilderness and prioritize the needs of local residents over those of the migratory birds.
Local Alaska Native groups, however, strongly favor the project to improve emergency access and economic connections. Supporters include Agdaagux Tribe of King Cove, Native Village of Belkofski, King Cove Corporation, Aleutians East Borough and the City of King Cove
This past October, the Department of Interior signed a land exchange with the King Cove Corporation, providing 490 acres for a transportation corridor passing through Izembek National Wildlife Refuge in exchange for 1,739 acres of high-conservation value land.
Earlier this week, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, the Alaska State Historic Preservation Officer, the Alaska Department of Transportation and Public Facilities, the Agdaagux Tribe of King Cove, and the King Cove Corporation signed a programmatic agreement pertaining to Section 106 of the National Historic Preservation Act.
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On July 10, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers announced it has issued the Clean Water Act Section 404 permit to the Alaska Department of Transportation and Public Facilities. The State will immediately begin mobilizing equipment and supplies and expects to begin road construction in 30 days.
“The King Cove Road is about safety,” said Ryan Anderson, Commissioner of the Alaska Department of Transportation and Public Facilities. “This project will improve transportation for the community while also creating local jobs and workforce development opportunities for the people of King Cove. DOT&PF is proud to work with our community, Tribal, and federal partners to deliver this long-needed project.”
Over the years, numerous medical evacuations have been delayed or cancelled because weather conditions made marine crossings or flights to and from King Cove unsafe. The new road will provide dependable ground transportation to the Cold Bay Airport, home to one of the longest all-weather runways in the region and a critical transportation hub for Southwest Alaska.
