Alaska Highway construction, maintenance and upgrades (1942–1970)

1. Pearl Harbor accelerates demand for an overland route

   Dec 7, 1941Labels: Pearl Harbor, U S

   • PBS
   • Alaska DOT

2. Construction begins on the Alaska Highway

   Mar 11, 1942Labels: U S, Alaska Highway

   • Alaska DOT
   • PBS

3. Final gap in the route is closed

   Oct 25, 1942Labels: Alaska Highway, route completion

   • PBS

4. Soldiers Summit ceremony marks road completion

   Nov 20, 1942Labels: Soldiers Summit, Kluane Lake

   • PBS
   • ExploreNorth

5. A more permanent highway alignment is completed

   Jan 1, 1943Labels: Highway realignment, Alaska Highway

   • Canada ca

6. Canol pipeline weld completed, supporting corridor logistics

   Feb 16, 1944Labels: Canol Project, pipeline

   • Canol

7. Canada assumes control of the highway in Canada

   Apr 1, 1946Labels: Canada, Yukon

   • Canada ca
   • Alaska Hwy

8. Highway opens to civilian (non-military) use

   Jan 1, 1948Labels: Civilian access, Alaska Highway

   • Canada ca
   • Alaska DOT

9. Peace River Suspension Bridge collapses on the route

   Oct 16, 1957Labels: Peace River, Taylor BC

   • Peace Bridge
   • Alaska Hwy

10. Alaska section paving advances through the 1960s

    Jan 1, 1960Labels: Alaska paving, Alaska Highway

    • Alaska Hwy

11. Postwar responsibilities consolidated in Canadian federal management

    Jan 1, 1964Labels: Canadian federal, Public Services

    • Canada ca

12. Good Friday earthquake cripples major Alaska highways

    Mar 27, 1964Labels: Good Friday, Alaska highways

    • USGS
    • TRB TRID