Driving the AK Highway was an interesting experience in many ways. The beautiful north Canada scenery was only the beginning! The interesting people and places of the area added another level of enjoyment to the trip. The history behind the highway was especially interesting to me.
The idea was not new. There had been earlier discussion of the military need as war clouds formed. After Pearl Harbor the need was revisited but an alternative was developed - the Northwest Staging Route was a series of airfields across the Yukon Territory and Alaska that pilots used to move aircraft from the manufacturing point to Fairbanks where they were turned over to Russian pilots under the Lend-Lease agreements of WW II!
However, after the Japanese invaded US Territory in 1942, a secure land based supply route to AK was considered imperative. Visions of the Japanese moving from the Aleutian Islands to the mainland were real concerns. Remember our control of the sea and air lanes was not secure in that time frame!
The Canadians of course were equal and they agreed to provide the land if we would build the highway. The US Army Corp of Engineers was the lead agency and they starting moving men and equipment in immediately. Dawson Creek, British Columbia (BC) was the end of the rail line and became the beginning of the AlCan Highway as it was initially called. It stretched thru BC and the Yukon Territory (YT) to the border of the Alaska Territory and into Alaska to Delta Junction, where it joined the existing Richardson Highway from Valdez to Fairbanks! About 1200 miles across the Canada and 200 miles in AK!
The Army assembled a mix of Combat Engineer units and civilian contractors and they started on the Pioneer Road in a very short order. The Pioneer Road was the original path of the road and was constructed in less the 9 months. It was started at multiple points along a proposed route and they were joined together to form the completed route.
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| The season for road work is short and it is very prevalent along the highway! |
This initial route was meant to "show the way" for the combat engineers to construct the final road. The pioneer road was passable for military vehicles but not for a regular parade of supply vehicles needed to supply our distant outpost.
As stipulated in the original agreement, 6 months after the war the US turned the Canadian portion of the highway over to the Canadian government.
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| Newer wider bridges help |
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| Lots of good turnouts are part of the new highway! |
Over the years the highway, now known as the Alaskan Highway, has undergone improvements, bridges upgraded, ascents/descents modified, switchbacks eliminated and improved materials. It is all paved now and is open year round.
Beautiful and interesting views and sites are never in short supply along the AK Highway!
There are numerous historical points along the highway that recall the history of the construction effort. And, in the Summer there is a constant stream of tourist (like us) making the trek along the highway.
Always at home, no matter where we are!!
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