Alaska

[Quillz]

I saw a similar video from the late 70s/early 80s about the building of the Dalton Highway. That + Alaska Highway must be some of the greatest highway engineering ever, just in terms of the environment they had to deal with. (Dalton Highway itself was basically just to provide access to the pipeline during construction, but later on they kept it and improved it slightly and eventually was turned over to public use.)

[bing101]

Here is a Roadgeek tour of Alaska by InterstateKS.

Here is a rare freeway section in Alaska.

[vdeane]

Looks like InterstateKS got misled about the northern/eastern end of I-A3 from this incorrect map.  Note that the mileages are only right with I-A1 and I-A3 ending at each other in Anchorage, and the I-A3 listing makes no mention of a junction at I-A4, which it would if they all ended at each other.

[tdindy88]

Okay, so I'm planning a trip up to Alaska with my 15-year old nephew next year in the last week of March. Speaking of the Alaska interstates, I don't know if it's ever been asked here, but could the Glenn Highway between Anchorage and Palmer ever be designated as Interstate A-1, since it technically already is. Seems like the highway is freeway quality and probably longer than Hawaii's H-1 to boot. I know they have the state highways already on the highway and prefer highway names over numbers, but would it hurt to make it A-1? I figure it's not an important issue up there and probably deemed as not necessary, but has there ever been any talk about it nonetheless?

[Bickendan]

It probably falls under the "more trouble than it's worth" category as the impression I have Alaskans are more apt to refer to their highways by name than by number, particularly since the signed AK routes are similar but not 1:1 with the underlying interstates.

[mgk920]

Apologies if this has been posted here before but I absolutely loved this video and couldn’t imagine what it was like for the men who built this beast:

(Youtube clip snipped)

It is amazing what a real need will produce.  The USA's War Department needed an all-weather supply route that was out of range of Japanese naval aviators and FAST and that road was the only way.  Would it even exist today if not for World War II?  (the USA's flag itself might still have 48 stars).

Mike

[Alex]

Looks like InterstateKS got misled about the northern/eastern end of I-A3 from this incorrect map.  Note that the mileages are only right with I-A1 and I-A3 ending at each other in Anchorage, and the I-A3 listing makes no mention of a junction at I-A4, which it would if they all ended at each other.

Did not realize that I mislabeled I-A1 as I-A3 between Anchorage and Palmer. I made that map in GIS ten years or so ago and don't have a way to update the raw data now. But did at least change the incorrect shield on the png file and corrected the map at https://www.interstate-guide.com/alaska/

[kphoger]

could the Glenn Highway between Anchorage and Palmer ever be designated as Interstate A-1, since it technically already is

So... nothing needs to change?

[tdindy88]

I meant "signed" as Interstate A-1. But no worries if Alaska isn't that interested, I was just curious. 

[vdeane]

Looks like InterstateKS got misled about the northern/eastern end of I-A3 from this incorrect map.  Note that the mileages are only right with I-A1 and I-A3 ending at each other in Anchorage, and the I-A3 listing makes no mention of a junction at I-A4, which it would if they all ended at each other.

Did not realize that I mislabeled I-A1 as I-A3 between Anchorage and Palmer. I made that map in GIS ten years or so ago and don't have a way to update the raw data now. But did at least change the incorrect shield on the png file and corrected the map at https://www.interstate-guide.com/alaska/

How long does it take the change to propagate out to everyone browsing?

[Alex]

Looks like InterstateKS got misled about the northern/eastern end of I-A3 from this incorrect map.  Note that the mileages are only right with I-A1 and I-A3 ending at each other in Anchorage, and the I-A3 listing makes no mention of a junction at I-A4, which it would if they all ended at each other.

Did not realize that I mislabeled I-A1 as I-A3 between Anchorage and Palmer. I made that map in GIS ten years or so ago and don't have a way to update the raw data now. But did at least change the incorrect shield on the png file and corrected the map at https://www.interstate-guide.com/alaska/

How long does it take the change to propagate out to everyone browsing?

Not sure, up to two weeks for the cache to clear. I can clear it manually (thought I did but I guess not).

[Interstate KS]

Looks like InterstateKS got misled about the northern/eastern end of I-A3 from this incorrect map.  Note that the mileages are only right with I-A1 and I-A3 ending at each other in Anchorage, and the I-A3 listing makes no mention of a junction at I-A4, which it would if they all ended at each other.

Hello, Interstate KS here. I saw this a while ago and have since posted corrections on my channel. I was already suspecting that I got it wrong, and this post was the impetus I needed to say something about it. Unfortunately, YouTube does not allow the replacement of videos, but I was able to change thumbnails and post corrections in the descriptions.

[Dougtone]

Checking out the incredible scenic and historic journey that is Alaska Route 98 from Skagway to White Pass and into Canada. Also known as the Klondike Highway, the road follows the route taken by many gold prospectors during the Klondike Gold Rush of 1898.

https://www.gribblenation.org/2023/02/alaska-route-98-and-south-klondike.html

[roadman65]

I noticed GSV has no Street View captions. I was curious though, does that particular island have any state highways and most of all any stoplights?

[oscar]

I noticed GSV has no Street View captions. I was curious though, does that particular island have any state highways and most of all any stoplights?

Which island? If you're asking about Skagway, it's on the mainland.

[roadman65]

Oh sorry. Kodiak Island. Thought I mentioned it.  I didn't in either sentence. That would help lol.

[oscar]

Oh sorry. Kodiak Island. Thought I mentioned it.  I didn't in either sentence. That would help lol.

Kodiak doesn't have any primary state highways (routes 1-11, and 98), the only ones with signed route numbers. Kodiak has other state-maintained highways, with unsigned 5- or 6-digit inventory numbers, as one would expect for a state where the state DOT maintains most roads of any significance and many insignificant ones as well.

[stevashe]

I noticed GSV has no Street View captions. I was curious though, does that particular island [Kodiak] have any...stoplights?

There may not be any streetview, but there are some photo spheres. This particular one shows a stoplight in the background: https://goo.gl/maps/E4PXq5rV95kcEdfj9

It's also fairly visible even just with satellite view: https://www.google.com/maps/@57.789124,-152.4083979,205m/data=!3m1!1e3

[roadman65]

Why is it that the Googlecar didn't make it there? It's only a ferry ride away.

Speaking of GOogle I see this one in Anchorage features a guide sign for Minnesota Drive which is a freeway within the city.
https://goo.gl/maps/JxpoDWm2kknP4JfF8
Love the use of NORTHBOUND.

[oscar]

The Alaska Marine Highway auto ferry system today released its summer schedules:

https://dot.alaska.gov/comm/pressbox/arch2023/PR23-0008.shtml

Due to staffing shortages, two vessels (including the one used for service across the Gulf of Alaska between Juneau and Prince William Sound) are for now out of service, unless and until the vessels can be crewed up for the summer season. Service to and from Prince Rupert BC has also been suspended, and to and from Bellingham WA will be reduced to once a week. Monthly service in the Aleutians, between Dutch Harbor and Homer, will still be available.

[The Ghostbuster]

If I ever am in Alaska again, I'll be sure to head to Lone Moose to visit the Tobin family (The Great North).

[oscar]

Alaska DOT&PF will be studying, with an Alaska native corporation, a possible relocation of Juneau's ferry terminal about 30 miles north along the existing Glacier Highway (part of AK 7). The idea is to improve ferry connections to the main North American highway network, by shorter ferry trips to and from Haines and Skagway. Of course, this would mean a longer drive/bus ride over the Glacier Highway from downtown Juneau and most of its residents.

https://dot.alaska.gov/comm/pressbox/arch2023/PR23-0010.shtml

This is similar to a previous proposal, sunk by environmental objections, to extend the Glacier Highway to a new ferry terminal. At least the current idea doesn't require a highway extension.

Highway extensions to Haines and/or Skagway have long been off the table, for various legal and environmental reasons. See https://www.aaroads.com/forum/index.php?topic=22880.0 for some prior discussion.

[Rothman]

Alaska DOT&PF will be studying, with an Alaska native corporation, a possible relocation of Juneau's ferry terminal about 30 miles north along the existing Glacier Highway (part of AK 7). The idea is to improve ferry connections to the main North American highway network, by shorter ferry trips to and from Haines and Skagway. Of course, this would mean a longer drive/bus ride over the Glacier Highway from downtown Juneau and most of its residents.

https://dot.alaska.gov/comm/pressbox/arch2023/PR23-0010.shtml

This is similar to a previous proposal, sunk by environmental objections, to extend the Glacier Highway to a new ferry terminal. At least the current idea doesn't require a highway extension.

Highway extensions to Haines and/or Skagway have long been off the table, for various legal and environmental reasons. See https://www.aaroads.com/forum/index.php?topic=22880.0 for some prior discussion.

Move it further from Juneau?  Eesh.  The schedules are already lousy, especially if you come in from points south.  You have to disembark late at night and, if you just want to continue north, be back early in the morning.  It's already a total racket for hotels near Juneau's airport.

Horrible idea in terms of convenience to the traveler just to save an hour to get to those northern towns.

[Plutonic Panda]

They need to come terms with the highway. Just build the damned thing.

[The Ghostbuster]

Easier said than done.