Walter J. Hickel Parkway - Anchorage

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Walter J. Hickel Parkway/Minnesota Drive forms part a multi lane arterial or freeway running 7.56 miles north from O'Malley Road across the city of Anchorage to the South Addition neighborhood outside Downtown. O'Malley Road expands to four lanes leading west into the diamond interchange with SR 1 (Seward Highway). Beyond the signalized intersection with Old Seward Highway, O'Malley Road upgrades to the freeway along Walter J. Hickel Parkway.

Turning north past C Street, Walter J. Hickel Parkway follows Minnesota Drive through the dumbbell interchange with W 100th Avenue. The freeway continues north to International Airport Road, gateway to Ted Stevens Anchorage International Airport (ANC). Minnesota Drive transitions into a four lane arterial north at Tudor Road. The arterial separates into the couplet of I Street north and L Street south beyond the causeway across Westchester Lagoon.

Spenard Throughway under construction in Anchorage - 1968 Map

1968 map showing the construction of what was referred to as the Spenard Throughway extending north from Minnesota Drive.

Minnesota Drive Extension - Anchorage, AK - 1984 Map

Proposed southward extension of Minnesota Drive from Dimond Boulevard to O'Malley Road in 1984.

O'Malley Road - West

O'Malley Road west intersects Elmore Road between Alaska Zoo and Anchorage Golf Course.
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O'Malley Road expands to four lanes west at Otis Parkway.
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O'Malley Road meets SR 1 (Seward Highway) at a diamond interchange. Road work anticipated for 2024 converts this exchange into a DDI.
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SR 1 (Seward Highway) constitutes a freeway south to Potter Marsh and north to 36th Avenue in Anchorage.
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SR 1 follows Seward Highway south to Girdwood and SR 9 at Sterling Highway on the Kenai Peninsula.
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Forthcoming Old Seward Highway represents the pre-freeway alignment of SR 1.
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Old Seward Highway constitutes a commercial arterial paralleling SR 1.
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O'Malley Road becomes Walter J. Hickel Parkway west from Old Seward Highway.
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Walter J. Hickel Parkway passes under the Alaska Railroad ahead of the dumbbell interchange with C Street.
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Walter J. Hickel Parkway curves northwest from C Street to a dumbell interchange with 100th Avenue.
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Frontage roads accompany Walter J. Hickel Parkway between 100th Avenue and Dimond Boulevard.
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A viaduct leads Walter J. Hickel Parkway northeast across the Alaska Railroad.
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Minnesota Drive - North

Walter J. Hickel Parkway transitions from a limited access freeway to a six lane arterial at Tudor Road.
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Minnesota Drive north at W 26th Avenue.
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Hillcrest Drive spans Minnesota Drive ahead of Westchester Lake.
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Curving east, Minnesota Drive next converges with Spenard Road north.
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Minnesota Drive/Walter J. Hickel Parkway transitions onto I Street north toward Downtown Anchorage.
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Minnesota Drive - South

L Street transitions onto Walter J. Hickel Parkway/Minnesota Drive southwest beyond W 15th Avenue.
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Minnesota Drive follows a causeway southwest between Westchester Lagoon and Westchester Lake to the exit ramp for Hillcrest Drive.
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Hillcrest Drive is a 0.62 mile long major collector connecting Minnesota Drive with Forest Park Drive at the Atwood Estates subdivision to the west and Spenard Road to the east.
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A grade separation takes Hillcrest Drive across Minnesota Drive by West Anchorage High School.
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Minnesota Drive transitions into a six lane arterial south ahead of the traffic light at W 26th Avenue.
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Northern Lights Boulevard west forms an arterial couplet with Benson Boulevard east by Northern Lights Mall and Midtown Mall among other commercial establishments.
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Spenard Road angles southwest across Minnesota Drive toward Lake Spenard and Ted Stevens Anchorage International Airport (ANC).
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The last signal along Minnesota Drive southbound is at Tudor Road.
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Tudor Road is a major arterial route east across Midtown Anchorage.
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Walter J. Hickel Parkway - South

Walter J. Hickel Parkway upgrades to a freeway south over a viaduct spanning the Alaska Railroad.
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A six-ramp parclo interchange follows along Walter J. Hickel Parkway south with International Airport Road.
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International Airport Road runs 3.70 miles west from Homer Drive adjacent to SR 1 (Seward Highway) to the passenger terminal at Ted Stevens Anchorage International Airport (ANC).
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