Highway has held a fascination for
visitors and residents. The building of the
Alaska Highway is an epic tale that involves
mystery, romance, and intrigue.
In 1941, the Japanese attacked Pearl
Harbor, Hawaii. This significant event forced
the American and Canadian governments
to re-evaluate their security. There was an
obvious need to shore up and protect the
sovereignty of North America. In response, a
secure land transportation link was needed
to transfer military goods, materials, and
men from the continental states to Alaska.
As one part of the wartime measures, 1,500
miles of road needed to be punched
through the vast untamed wilderness of
northern Canada and Alaska. Building in
these northern areas would not be an easy
feat. For eight months, men and women
would battle mountains, mosquitoes and
muskegs to finish this vital artery.
On March 9, 1942, Dawson Creek, a small
northern Canadian community with a
population of 600 people, bustled and
swelled with activity when the first train
carrying American troops arrived. In a
matter of weeks the town's population
exploded to 10,000.
regiments of American engineers,
approximately 11,000 men (including three
regiments of men of African American
heritage), 16,000 civilians from Canada and
the United States, and 7,000 pieces of
equipment were thrown into action against
some of the toughest and most unforgiving
wilderness areas in the world.
After a little over eight months of intense
construction, the Alaska Highway was
complete. On November 20, 1942, Mile
1061 (known as Soldiers' Summit) saw the
ribbon cutting ceremony that officially
opened the "Alcan" Highway. The 1528
mile road included 133 major bridges and
more than 3000 culverts. The cost of this
construction was approximately $140
million U.S. wartime dollars.
This remarkable achievement has developed
into a major transportation link in North
America, stretching from Mile `0' at
Dawson Creek, British Columbia,
through the Yukon Territory, and
into Alaska. Since the completion
of the Alaska Highway in the 1940's,
a continuous program of upgrading,
widening, and straightening has been
underway.
paved except in construction areas. The
Alaska Highway, once an emergency
wartime road, has developed into a vital
link between the giant industrial regions
of the U.S. and Canada and the natural
resources of Alaska and Yukon.
Aside from the economic aspects of the
highway, it also represents a permanent
monument to the resilient and enduring
friendship between two great nations.
On September 28th, 1996, a ceremony
was held in Dawson Creek in which
the American Society of Civil Engineers
designated the Alaska Highway as the 16th
International Historic Civil Engineering
Landmark in the world.