Published: May 6, 2026 |

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2026 Ambler Access Road Field Work Crew (Photo-AIDEA)
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With permits for the Ambler Road reinstated, the Alaska Industrial Development and Export Authority (AIDEA) has launched a 2026 field program to advance design and construction planning for the proposed 211-mile access to one of the richest undeveloped copper districts.

Fieldwork along the corridor will be carried out by crews from the Alaska Department of Fish & Game, HDR Engineering, and Qayaq Construction, an Alaska Native-owned company that specializes in building roads, airports, and other infrastructure.

According to AIDEA, geotechnical, hydrological, permafrost, and fish habitat data collected during the program will help refine engineering design, environmental review, and overall project planning.

“This work is critical to reducing uncertainty around major cost drivers and advancing design toward construction-ready plans. Each field data point improves our understanding of the corridor and helps reduce data gaps, and uncertainty,” said Jeff San Juan, infrastructure development program manager at AIDEA.

With AIDEA collecting the data needed to build the road, Ambler Metals has applied for the federal permits to develop and operate Arctic, the first mine in the district.

This mine depends on the Ambler Road to transport concentrates to market, while those shipments are expected to underpin the road’s economic viability.

Development of the road and Arctic mine is expected to help unlock the broader district, which hosts more than 30 known deposits enriched in copper, zinc, silver, germanium, and other critical minerals.

AIDEA emphasized the importance of local hire during the 2026 Ambler Road corridor data collection program. PJ Simon, the first chief of Allakaket, a village about 45 miles south of the Ambler Road corridor, says the job opportunities offered by this program, and the future development of the road and mines in the district, are unmatched.

“Above all else, standing on your own two feet to succeed and having gainful employment builds character, confidence, disposable income, and future retirement. Qayak Construction has taken the opportunity to provide gainful employment with Allakaket Tribal members. This is the direct benefit of responsible resource development and extraction for Ambler Access Project,” said Simon.

Source: North of 60

The Ambler Road is a proposed 200-mile private industrial access road intended to provide a transportation corridor to the Ambler Mining District in Northwest Alaska. The project is intended to support responsible access to critical mineral resources on millions of acres of state lands while contributing to long-term economic opportunities for the region and State.

The Alaska Industrial Development and Export Authority is a public corporation of the state of Alaska. AIDEA’s mission is to promote, develop, and advance the general prosperity and economic welfare of the people of Alaska. AIDEA’s continued partnership with the shipyard reflects its mission to promote sustainable development and long-term opportunities for Alaskans.

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