Eagle River

[Glitch]

Originally Posted by rotorhead

I lived in Eagle River for about 2 1/2 years, and while it lacked some amenities (like a variety of good restaurants) it's a much more viable commute into Anchorage than Palmer or Wasilla. That 45 minute figure is for ideal conditions, and as others have pointed out that's assuming too much even for urban S. Central Alaska. This also applies to the Eagle River bridge as well, and it's much taller than you'd expect just from driving over it.

Lets not forget that all the bridges along that route are single failure-path nodes as well. If any of them should drop an inch too far in a quake some day, there is NO alternate path between Anchorage and the valley. It could be months before a "normal" commute is back on line, and the disruptions would be epic. If one of them ever had a major failure requiring total replacement it would be an economic disaster for S. Central.

I'd suggest that if you work in Anchorage, you should live there. If Elmendorf is your duty station, I'd say no further than Eagle River.

The Eagle River bridge is the choke-point. If any of the bridges before or after the Eagle River bridge were to be damaged in a quake, there are alternative routes around them. However, if the Eagle River bridge were to fail, then not just Anchorage is cut off, but also the entire Kenai Peninsula.

I also agree that if the Eagle River bridge were to fail it would be an economic disaster for the entire state. Which is a good argument for developing an alternate route. More than 30,000 commute daily into Anchorage from the Valley, and that does not count commuters from Eagle River, Chugiak, Ekultna, or Peters Creek.

[browncoatflan]

Originally Posted by Marty Van Diest

There will be a few days each year when you are in Anchorage while the weather deteriorates and adds an hour or two to your commute home. It doesn't happen that often, but it does happen.

He'll be 10 by the time we arrive. I'm sure that the schools have some recourses for if sudden storms come in or some other event. We plan on doing some extreme-cold weather training with him (along the kind that I had as a child while visiting far northern Europe) so that if he gets home and we aren't there he's capable of lasting for a while without us. He's a smarty, and if I was able to do it once when my parents were stuck overnight (no phones back in those days to rural Alpine areas) with two younger siblings, he should be able to do some common-sense stuff (once shown that it IS common-sense stuff. Never assume for common-sense!).

Originally Posted by Marty Van Diest

It sounds to me like you would want to stay closer to work. You will likely have to settle for a house on a small lot.

I've seen quite a few houses on more than 1/2 acre in the pie-wedge area that we're considering, that we would happily move into, on AHRN and on Craigslist. Our problem has been that we don't get there til the end of July...annnnd that we'd like to see it in real life though we're not averse to taking a place we haven't seen if we're supplied with a ton of pictures and other information.

Originally Posted by Marty Van Diest

Do you have to go to UAA? Can you take some of the classes long distance? Or can you take some at the Mat-Su College?

Yes, I'm in the higher-level science courses that require labs. Unless ASD had a voucher system or offers the choice between the schools where you live or the schools where you work, our hatchling will be in the schools closest to the house.


Shan

[Marty Van Diest]

Originally Posted by browncoatflan

He'll be 10 by the time we arrive. I'm sure that the schools have some recourses for if sudden storms come in or some other event. We plan on doing some extreme-cold weather training with him (along the kind that I had as a child while visiting far northern Europe) so that if he gets home and we aren't there he's capable of lasting for a while without us. He's a smarty, and if I was able to do it once when my parents were stuck overnight (no phones back in those days to rural Alpine areas) with two younger siblings, he should be able to do some common-sense stuff (once shown that it IS common-sense stuff. Never assume for common-sense!).

You are the parent and know how to deal with the situation. I'm not sure what the schools do. I'm sure in a true emergency they have plans. I don't think they consider a major snow storm an emergency. Maybe you can talk to the Boys and Girls Club, they have after-school programs.

I've seen quite a few houses on more than 1/2 acre in the pie-wedge area that we're considering, that we would happily move into, on AHRN and on Craigslist. Our problem has been that we don't get there til the end of July...annnnd that we'd like to see it in real life though we're not averse to taking a place we haven't seen if we're supplied with a ton of pictures and other information.

Yes, I would recommend walking in the house before you buy. More and more people are buying houses without seeing them these days. Photos and videos help but nothing beats walking on the floors, smelling the carpets, looking at the neighbors, listening to the traffic noise.

Yes, I'm in the higher-level science courses that require labs. Unless ASD had a voucher system or offers the choice between the schools where you live or the schools where you work, our hatchling will be in the schools closest to the house.

For higher level science with labs you will have to go to Anchorage. Our daughter had to commute to Anchorage for those courses as well.

Shan

As far as the bridges blocking your access back to the valley, I wouldn't worry about it. There are actually three bridges across Eagle River and there are 3 bridges across the Knik River. You would have to lose all three bridges to completely block access. It would be inconvenient and time consuming, but there would still be access across those alternate routes.

Except for a major emergency, and an earthquake is the one I think would be the most probable, you will only be delayed getting home. You will definitely be delayed at least a few times during the winter.

UAA has a lot of evening classes and you might be able to find a schedule that has at least one parent home. But then you see your child but not each other...that's the life of a parent.