Military begins work on site to become new Alaska village
June 13, 2019 11:40AM AKDT
BETHEL, Alaska (AP) – The U.S. military has begun construction work on a site expected to become the new location of an Alaska village.
KYUK-AM reported Wednesday that the U.S. Air Force and Marine Corps started work Tuesday at Mertarvik, a nearby site where the village of Newtok will be relocated.
Officials in the village on the Ningliq River invited the U.S. Department of Defense to develop the area northwest of Bethel for its Innovations Readiness Training.
Officials say the training allows reserve forces to practice setting up infrastructure in unfamiliar environments.
Officials say military personnel will use the next 10 weeks to construct a gravel road, landfill, heavy equipment shop, and four homes in Mertarvik.