Interstate A2

Overview

Interstate A2 coincides with Alaska State Route 2 southeast along Richardson Highway from Fairbanks to Delta Junction, and along Alaska Highway southeast to Tok. The northernmost 20.26 miles from SR 3 (Mitchell Expressway) to Eielson Air Force Base is a controlled access expressway.
Richardson Highway southeast from Eielson Air Force Base to Salcha, Big Delta and Delta Junction is a two lane highway with alternating passing lanes. Richardson Highway extends south to Valdez as SR 4 from Delta Junction with SR 2 shifts onto Alaska Highway to Dry Creek, Dot Lake and Tanacross in the Southeast Fairbanks Census Area. I-A2 concludes at SR 1 (Tok Cutoff Highway) in Tok. The remainder of SR 2 to Northway and Alcan Border is part of Interstate A1.
Route Information
Source: December 31, 2021 Interstate Route Log and Finders List
Average Annual Daily Traffic
Source: 2020 Average Annual Daily Traffic County, Alaska DOT&PF GIS Shapefile
History
The Alaska Highway was originally constructed over the course of eight months and 12 days. Built to support operations in World War II and 1,520 miles in length, the Alaska Highway was established as an International Historical Engineer Landmark in 1996.1 A dedication ceremony marking the completion of the Alaska Highway or Alcan Highway took place at Soldier’s Summit on Saint Elias Mountain in Canada on November 20, 1942. A convoy of trucks transporting war supplies proceeded northward immediately thereafter.2
Paving operations along the Alaska Highway got underway in 1951 along a 45 mile long section from Big Delta to the Johnson River. The remainder of the Alcan Highway southeast to Tok was already paved at the time.3
$4.9 million in construction expanded Richardson Highway to four lanes and realigned the route along a 7.5 mile stretch from outside Fairbanks to Moose Creek Bluff. Two bridges spanning Moose Creek were part of the “Section 2” of the Richardson Highway four-lane project underway in 1971. Paving along “Section 1” wrapped up in October 1971 at a cost of $1.88 million.4
A 12.9 mile long project from Canyon Creek to Shaw Creek completed upgrades along Richardson Highway between Fairbanks and Delta Junction. Costing $8 million, work was completed by September 1976.5
Photo Guides
North End
– Fairbanks, Alaska
North at
South at
North at
South End –
– Tok, Alaska
South at
West
North at
North at
Sources:
- “Alaska Highway a Landmark.” Daily Sitka Sentinel (AK), September 27, 1996.
- “Sub-Zero Weather Prevailed at Alcan Highway Dedication.” Fairbanks Daily News-Miner (AK), November 23, 1942.
- “Big Paving Program Slated for Alaska Roads in 1951.” Fairbanks Daily News-Miner (AK), April 19, 1951.
- “Zahare Reports on Road Projects.” Fairbanks Daily News-Miner (AK), September 30, 1971.
- “Steese bypass completion set.” Fairbanks Daily News-Miner (AK), April 27, 1976.
Page updated September 25, 2023.