AKDOT took a $34 million dollar budget cut this year while the Ambler Road Proposal closes in on spending $30 million dollars in studies, consultants and permit applications…

“Cuts to the state operating budget have forced the Alaska Department of Transportation and Public Facilities to eliminate 35 surface transportation maintenance positions and abolish overtime for winter road crews.

DOT took a $34 million hit — a 12.5 percent reduction — to its fiscal 2016 general fund operating budget, most of which goes to running the Alaska Marine Highway System and maintaining the states roads, runways and other facilities.” Read the full article here.