What changes have impacted your life in Alaska? (Anchorage, Fairbanks: relocation, house)

[Snootylooter]

Our family lived in Alaska for almost 20 years (Anchorage & Ketchikan) - the best place we ever lived and the only on that feels like home. We left in the summer of '90, because of a company relocation. I'm thrilled to now have the opportunity to move back, as soon as our home sells here! We've had the opportunity to live in several states across the U.S., but nothing feels as "right" as Alaska always has.

I have kept up with all the news there since our move, and daily read all the on-line papers from Anchorage, Fairbanks, & Juneau. I still recognize names of folks I knew (I was active, politically) and also have a sister and her family living there, as well as a few friends.

One question they struggle with, when I ask, is: How has the Anchorage/Valley area changed in the past 15-20 years? What change has the most impact on your daily life and enjoyment of the area - for better or worse?

I so enjoy CD, and the wealth of information that is available here. There are a few of you that sound so much like the "true" Alaskans that I knew when I lived there and I look forward to your perspectives!


"You'll find you can't get by without that early morning high - without a touch of early morning gold!"
Early Morning Gold
Atz & Nedra Kilcher

[Rance]

The road (including the knik river bridges) from Anch to the Valley is much better now. Used to be quite the death defying trip on that route.

[Marty Van Diest]

I have that record...somewhere.

It's pretty much like you left it except that there are more people. And there is more traffic.

The Valley's main roads are a little congested. They aren't keeping up with the traffic.

Like Rance said, the Glenn Highway is now a 4 line all the way from Wasilla now and that helps commuters.

In the Wasilla there is a Walmart, Fred Meyers, Sportsman's Warehouse opening soon and a Target store just going up. I generally don't go to Anchorage anymore unless I'm picking someone up at the airport. I can get everything here.

[Glitch]

In my opinion, the biggest improvement is the four-lane highway from Wasilla to Anchorage. Like Rance said, it was a real nightmare when it was just two-lanes and people could pull out in front of you from just about anywhere.

Wasilla also has a Home Depot and Lowes now, and they built a Palmer/Wasilla Highway Extension that goes behind Wasilla to connect with the Knik-Goose Bay Road/Main Street allowing you to bypass most of Wasilla's traffic on the Parks Highway. There has also been so much development along the Knik-Goose Bay Road all the way to Settler's Bay (including a paved bike trail) that you probably wouldn't recognize it anymore.