Dawn patrol on Egan Drive

Garbage collected and placed for pickup at the McNugget intersection’s outbound guardrail on June 22, 2025. (Photo by Mike Clemens)

In years past, bears, deer, and porcupines used to sometime greet me when picking up trash on Egan Drive, but not this time. What got my attention during the sunny days surrounding this year’s summer solstice was three plastic and one metal five-gallon buckets in the median between Vanderbilt Hill Road and the wetlands Rotary observation deck turnoff. 

Like Samuel L. Clemens (no relation) used to notice all the changes in the Mississippi River from his riverboat pilot house, I tend to notice certain types of trash that seem to accumulate and thus spoil Mother Nature’s beauty both locals and tourists enjoy. After a few days of driving by, it dawns (pun intended) on me that I just might take things into my own hands, literally.

Good weather plays a large part, since the number-one rule of my being anywhere near Egan Drive traffic is visibility. Rainy windshields and worn-out wipers jeopardize anyone counting on drivers to see and avoid them. Stopping distance and time on wet pavement dramatically increase, so I no longer work in the rain as I once did years ago. 

To be seen, I wear an orange, reflective vest, or coat along with an orange hardhat and I try not to be stupid with how I move around traffic; that could get me killed. I’ve had a couple of close calls, and my brain and body have both aged in recent years. Thus, to avoid most traffic, I try to work Egan at first light, which means beginning about 3:30 a.m. or so around the summer solstice. Quiet allows me to hear birds and other things, like the fish near the overpass when they’re there.

New cars tend to have automatic headlights, which I think is a good thing. Some drivers apparently do not realize that headlights are NOT just for helping them see down the road, but are also to help them be seen by others. Low light conditions, except for fog, should mean headlights are on, but that does not always happen.

Parking can be hazardous along a high-speed corridor where traffic can easily exceed the posted 55 mph speed limit, so I try to be smart. Underneath the overpass is nicely sheltered, and other areas are reasonably safe for temporary parking. In years past JPD has helped guide me to safer places, like in the median when I drove a 4X4 pickup.

What I found recently did not vary much from past years: beverage containers, packing materials, and plastic bags routinely appear roadside. Random stuff included metal, wood, and plastic car parts resulting from minor fender-benders.

Since DOT/PF mows Egan Drive a couple times a year, I would try to time my efforts accordingly. The community-wide and wetlands cleanup coordinated by Litter Free Juneau kicks off the summer season and largely removes winter’s garbage. But by the time those cleanup efforts have been negated by the accumulation of new materials, especially around areas where traffic turns onto Egan Drive, it’s probably time to mow.

My approach to picking up litter varies from those orchestrated by other groups. Besides Litter Free Juneau, DOT/PF has an Adopt-A-Highway program with associated requirements and some community service groups periodically also help battle roadside trash. Further, like me, other independent folks, do their own thing, like the lady who specialized in destinations that seem to attract trash, and others who have been identified by themselves or others as helping keep Juneau’s roadsides beautiful on social media (where I have no presence).

First, I sort litter, as I gather it, into rectangular buckets carried in my left hand: one for recyclables, and one for trash. Back at my vehicle, I have a tall kitchen-style container lined by a yellow ALPAR-provided bag https://www.alparalaska.com/wp/ obtained locally from the helpful people at 7-mile, DOT/PF. In my right hand, I use a green grabber purchased at Western Auto. Depending on the time of day and obviously lack of traffic, I’ll wander across both sides of Egan Drive, but concentrate on the median. Trash on both sides tends to migrate into tall grass where it becomes part of the ecosystem. Recently, I stayed away from guard rails, but focused on what was most visible, typically in the median area which gets mowed.

Second, after walking back to my vehicle, I sort the recycling into plastic, aluminum, and glass for later deposit into Juneau’s Recycling Center. This keeps some roadside trash out of the landfill, which is filling up fast.

Third, once a yellow bag is filled, I tie it off so it will not come apart when put along the road to be picked up by DOT/PF workers who patrol the area. For me, I like to pile stuff together, in an area where it is easy for a state pick-up to pull over and load up what I’ve deposited. This year, since I worked Egan for only a few short days, I piled it up at the McNugget intersection outbound on the other side of the guard rail from the pedestrian crossing lights for Egan Drive.

Years ago, I would spend the first hours of most days along Egan Drive, and even have breakfast at McDonald's. Early in my efforts, the helpful manager would allow me to deposit trash into his outside garbage cans, but that was before I discovered ALPAR bags. Once a man thanked me for picking up trash, but only after he confirmed that I was not a city or state employee being paid.

Back then, while working Egan, some would either wave or honk in appreciation for my efforts or say something to me in person when I was working the Loop Road or Riverside Drive. One morning DJ wanted to interview me, but I was not interested at the time. Sometimes a little mystery is a good thing. Who was that early morning guy? Well, depending on when you asked, it might have been me.

• Mike Clemens has lived in Juneau since before Egan Drive was constructed.