06 Alaska Highway Pt 1
The Alaska Highway runs from Dawson Creek, B.C. to Delta Junction, Alaska; a distance of some 1390 miles. Its construction started in 1941 and it was built as a military project to allow support of the numerous air bases scattered between the U.S. border and the Aleutian Islands and the movement of troops to protect that area. One of the Islands was, in fact, captured by the Japanese. It was built in basically three stages; an 18 month military project building the “pioneer” road, a dirt road; a contractor project improving the road and building better bridges; and lastly, and still ongoing, straightening the road and improving the surface. It is all paved now except for areas under repair from winter damage.
We started our Alaska Highway trip at Dawson Creek, the beginning of The Highway. There you will find Milemarker 0 and a welcome sign.
This is a monument to the surveyors who were involved in planning the road.
As we mentioned, there were various stages of construction of the Highway. The Kiskatinaw Bridge was at Milepost 21 and was built in 1942 as part of the first upgrade from the Pioneer Road. It is still in use as a secondary road with a 25 Ton weight limit.
The first of our wildlife, 2 moose. Unfortunately, during most of our trip the animals will just be starting to grow back their antlers after shedding them during the winter.
Our first stop was in Fort Nelson which has a great heritage museum, so full of stuff it is mindboggling.
A Hudson Bay House, built as company housing by the Hudson Bay Company and placed at their working locations such as stores.
This is a 4210 HP engine used to drive an electrical generator used to power the city before hydroelectric was available. Below it is the crankshaft and pistons.
A monument to those killed during highway construction.
A monument to the workers.
We are going to end this here so can go out and do some sightseeing. Will do next installment soon.
