Alaska

[oscar]

This simplifies the numbering so that A1 and A3 form one seamless corridor and A2 replaces the east leg of A1 so that A2 follows all of the Alaska Highway.

It simplifies the numbering in another, more obvious way too:  the I- numbers now match the AK- numbers across the board.

Yep. Now I can actually remember which Alaska interstates I've been on/clinched. I never remembered what mapped to what.

Problem with FHWA's "simplification" is that it's not what AASHTO approved ca. 1982. It approved the four-route Interstate system Alaska DOT&PF proposed. AASHTO pointed out to the DOT that the proposed network had Interstate route numbers out of synch with the corresponding state route numbers, and asked "are you sure you want to do that?" But the state's proposal was approved anyway.

My only issue with the change is that it might need to be cleared with AASHTO to become official. AFAIK, I don't think that has happened or is planned.

[Rothman]

Frankly, the discussed changes are probably just a mistake by whoever updated the log, rather than totally intentional.  When the shutdown's over, I suppose I could reach out to see what happened here.  The Puerto Rico stuff in particular seems quite evident of someone quickly slapping something together and messing things up in the process.

[Quillz]

At least they only exist on paper. Don't have to worry about actual signage issues. 

In general, Alaskans rarely refer to the numbers, using the names instead. 

[kphoger]

Frankly, the discussed changes are probably just a mistake by whoever updated the log, rather than totally intentional.

That's what I'm thinking too.

[vdeane]

Frankly, the discussed changes are probably just a mistake by whoever updated the log, rather than totally intentional.  When the shutdown's over, I suppose I could reach out to see what happened here.  The Puerto Rico stuff in particular seems quite evident of someone quickly slapping something together and messing things up in the process.

The GIS seems a little dated, too; I didn't see the recent extensions of I-86 and I-11 in it.

[Alex]

I followed up with emails and got a response from a Transportation Planner at Alaska DOT&PF clarifying the problems with the FHWA dataset. The designations did not change and the data entry for the February 2025 updated to FHWA Route Log and Finder List was wrong.

We have four interstate route numbers: A1, A2, A3, and A4.  On some of our highways the State and Interstate route numbers match which is why the HEPGIS website is getting some of them correct. But for the ones where they differ, their site is incorrect.

Long story short, this discrepancy is happening because in our HPMS submittal (Highway Performance Monitoring System) we supply a route number and a route signing field to FHWA and I believe they are choosing the wrong field in their GIS. HPMS is where they pull this data for this website.

They will be requesting a correction for the FHWA HEPGIS website. The FHWA Route Log and Finder List has always had a few issues, but after this error, I will surely scrutinize the data more.

The correct Alaska Interstates Map:

[Rothman]

Suspicions confirmed...

[JayhawkCO]

Well, at least I didn't lose an interstate that I had clinched mileage on.

[Plutonic Panda]

A summarization of some of the major projects that wrapped up and were undertaken during 2025: https://www.youralaskalink.com/homepage/alaska-ends-2025-with-major-transportation-upgrades/article_3f44263c-0913-46c2-a400-a15986051ca9.html

[Quillz]

Looking at that map, I wonder why AK-5 even exists. It looks like a fairly natural extension of AK-1. I would have just kept it as one number. Especially since mile markers follow highway names and not route numbers. The numbers are rarely brought up within the state, anyway.

[oscar]

Looking at that map, I wonder why AK-5 even exists. It looks like a fairly natural extension of AK-1. I would have just kept it as one number.

Perhaps because AK 5 is closed for several months in the winter (the DOT doesn't even try to plow the road until the snow mostly is over for the season), while AK 1 is usually plowed in the winter.

YT 9 has a similar winter closure, as does the Boundary border crossing.

AK 5 provides summer access to that border crossing, and the towns of Chicken and Eagle.

[The Ghostbuster]

Google Maps Street View follows AK 5 to its junction with the Top of the World Highway, but does not continue to Eagle, AK. Street View follows TotW Highway to Yukon, Canada.

[oscar]

Google Maps Street View follows AK 5 to its junction with the Top of the World Highway, but does not continue to Eagle, AK. Street View follows TotW Highway to Yukon, Canada.

Maps are inconsistent about the routing of AK 5. I checked with the DOT, which confirmed that AK 5 turns east at the Jack Wade Junction north of Chicken, and follows Top of the World Highway to the Canadian border, rather than continuing north on the Taylor Highway to Eagle. Travel Mapping uses the former routing.

[Plutonic Panda]

Pretty interesting article about the construction of Alaska's soon to be longest span bridge:

https://www.equipmentworld.com/roadbuilding/article/15827865/liebherr-cranes-assemble-the-juneau-creek-bridge

[Plutonic Panda]

Cooper Landing bypass Project meets the halfway mark:

https://www.akbizmag.com/industry/construction/cooperbypass/

[oscar]

Construction has started on a 18.9-mile long one-lane gravel road, on the Alaska Peninsula between King Cove AK and nearby Cold Bay. This has long been a controversial project, since the road would cross a national wildlife refuge. It would provide reliable overland access between King Cove and Cold Bay's airport, especially for medical evacuations from King Cove when its small airport is closed by bad weather (much more often than for the larger Cold Bay airport).

This will be a multi-year project. Previous efforts to build the road have been interrupted by changes of administration and Federal court rulings. I don't know whether the land exchange, transferring control of the proposed right-of-way to King Cove's native corporation, will insulate the project from future changes of administration.

https://dot.alaska.gov/comm/pressbox/arch2026/PR26-0026.shtml
https://dot.alaska.gov/sereg/projects/king-cove-cold-bay/history.shtml

[WillWeaverRVA]

Google Street View took a trip up the Dalton Highway for the first time since 2011.

[The Ghostbuster]

Is there any AK 11 signage anywhere? There's none at its southern end, nor at its northern end.

[WillWeaverRVA]

Is there any AK 11 signage anywhere? There's none at its southern end, nor at its northern end.

It looks like there was a shield at its southern end but it was AWOL when GSV was there.

It doesn't seem to be posted from AK 2, either - there was an AK 11 trailblazer on westbound AK 2 approaching the intersection but it's gone.

EDIT: Hey, I found a sign.

[oscar]

There are few AK 11 markers anywhere on that ~416 mi. route, though it'd be nice to have some at the south end at its confusing junction with AK 2. There might've been one there, but apperently missing or stolen (sign theft happens in Alaska). There's a big Dalton Highway sign farther north of that sign, but no mention of the route number.

Last I was there in 2012, I saw a sign assembly near the highway's north end, with an apparently missing or stolen AK 11 marker. I can't find it in the current GSV imagery, with heavy fog or a camera malfunction.

Look for others north of the Yukon River (~ mile 60), around Coldfoot (mile 175), and the turnoff for Slope Mountain Camp (mile 305 -- my avatar is an edited photo of the marker along AK 11 southbound south of that junction).

[TBKS1]

I ended up finding one southbound near Coldfoot (near MM 174) https://maps.app.goo.gl/tKE8HTnhzHZnELM96 but it seems like several other locations that previously had a shield when GSV first covered them no longer do, and I would suspect that some of these have been stolen.


The Yukon River shield looking northbound appears to be gone, I couldn't even find one looking southbound and I would suspect they may have been stolen (compare 2011/2026 GSV here https://maps.app.goo.gl/qjQSL6SUdsv81aY17)

The southbound shield at Prospect Creek is gone, I couldn't find one looking northbound at all (compare GSV versions here https://maps.app.goo.gl/EVR7vrudydnifgpX7)

[WillWeaverRVA]

There are few AK 11 markers anywhere on that ~416 mi. route, though it'd be nice to have some at the south end at its confusing junction with AK 2. There might've been one there, but apperently missing or stolen (sign theft happens in Alaska). There's a big Dalton Highway sign farther north of that sign, but no mention of the route number.

Last I was there in 2012, I saw a sign assembly near the highway's north end, with an apparently missing or stolen AK 11 marker. I can't find it in the current GSV imagery, with heavy fog or a camera malfunction.

Look for others north of the Yukon River (~ mile 60), around Coldfoot (mile 175), and the turnoff for Slope Mountain Camp (mile 305 -- my avatar is an edited photo of the marker along AK 11 southbound south of that junction).

The one I posted a GSV link to is at Finger Mountain.