Geotechnical drilling is underway on the West Susitna Access Road after the Alaska Industrial Development and Export Authority board authorized up to $25 million in additional funding to advance predevelopment work for the infrastructure corridor in Alaska.

The proposed 78.5-mile, year-round road will provide a critical transportation link connecting Nova Minerals Corp’s Estelle Gold and Critical Minerals Project and its planned Port MacKenzie antimony refinery to the existing regional road network.

Field investigations have been completed at three material sites, with work at a fourth site nearing completion. Substantial progress has also been recorded at proposed bridge crossings, where drilling at four primary pier locations for the Susitna River Bridge has been completed using barge-supported equipment. Remaining in-river pier investigations are scheduled for the May 15 through July 15, 2027, in-water work window.

“This is the work that turns a route on a map into a road that can actually be built,” said AIDEA Deputy Executive Director Brandon Brefczynski. “The Board’s unanimous action keeps the project on schedule for the upcoming field seasons and moves us another step closer to unlocking one of the most promising resource corridors in the state.”

— Brandon Brefczynski, AIDEA Deputy Executive Director

Phase 1 of Nova Minerals' planned antimony trisulfide production is supported by a $43.4 million U.S. Department of War Defense Production Act Title III award granted to its subsidiary Alaska Range Resources. The company targets production for its Port MacKenzie antimony refinery in 2027.

“Nova Minerals welcomes the AIDEA board's unanimous funding approval, authorizing an additional $25 million to advance the development of the West Susitna Access Road. This marks another important milestone for Nova Minerals' Estelle Gold and Critical Minerals Project.”

“This vital piece of infrastructure will increase accessibility to the site, providing safe and reliable road access throughout the year, supporting our efforts to establish a fully secure, vertically integrated antimony supply chain.”

— Christopher Gerteisen, CEO

The funding and ongoing predevelopment work reinforce the logistical framework underpinning Nova Minerals' vertically integrated operations in Alaska as it advances toward its production targets.

Read the full announcement: West Susitna Access Road Advances with Geotechnical Drilling and $25 Million Additional Funding Approved