Missing from this discussion: is Parnell's road to Umiat really much different from Murkowski's road to Nuiqsut, which he pursued from early on?  I haven't been up there in recent history, but I gather that Alpine is well enough along to where there will be a road west into that country anyway.  And a road to Nome has been discussed for what, over a century now?  This is the westward push that's been talked about for decades.