from the Department of the Interior something else I didn't know - if and when this road gets approved, it'll take 4 - 6 YEARS to build.
The following was written approx. 2018 so I suppose the schedule could have changed, but still...
If you assume that court proceedings could keep this project tied up until the next presidential election, then if approved on Day 1 or 2 of a Republican administration, you're still looking at 2028 before start of mine construction. The more I look at this, the less I like:
Ambler Road Environmental Impact Statement Fact Sheet—Alaska
Overview
The BLM is the lead federal agency developing an Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) under the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) to evaluate whether or not to grant a right-of-way for the proposed Ambler Road across BLM-managed lands. The Alaska Industrial and Development Export Authority (AIDEA) has proposed the project. The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) and the U.S. Coast Guard (USCG) are cooperating agencies helping to prepare the EIS.
The proposed project would construct a new 211-mile roadway on the south side of the Brooks Range, extending west from the Dalton Highway to the south bank of the Ambler River. The road would be open only to mining-related industrial use; it would be closed to the public. The project would include bridges, material sites, maintenance stations, and related infrastructure and utilities.
The proponent’s proposal for the Ambler Road project would provide surface transportation access from the Dalton Highway to the Ambler Mining District, allowing for exploration and development of mineral deposits in the Ambler Mining District. According to AIDEA, the access corridor, which crosses the Western (Kobuk River) unit of the Gates of the Arctic National Park, is needed to increase job opportunities and encourage Alaska’s economic growth. Without access, the mineral assets associated with the Ambler Mining District would likely remain stranded, and AIDEA would be hindered in its efforts to support economic development and increase job opportunities within a region known for high unemployment rates.
Construction would occur in three phases over 4 to 6 years. AIDEA’s cost estimate for construction of the full build-out of the two-lane access road is $350 million; operations and maintenance costs are expected to range from $8 to $10 million per year. AIDEA, as a development finance authority, would develop the access route as a Public-Private Partnership. This means AIDEA funds and bonds would be used in conjunction with private capital for the construction and operation of the Ambler Road. The roadway corridor is expected to operate for up to 50 years.