science · 29 October 1942 · 82 years ago
In 1942, the Alaska highway was opened to traffic. At mile 1202, Beaver Creek , the final connection was completed here when the 97th Engineers met the 18th Engineers. The bombing of Pearl Harbor in Dec 1941 spurred construction of the Alaska Highway. Alaska was considered vulnerable to a Japanese invasion, and the highway was deemed a military necessity. Construction began in Mar 1942, and was completed 8 months later. Literally bulldozed through the wilderness, road conditions along the Alcan were horrific; 90 degree turns and 25 percent grades were not uncommon. Rain and truck traffic turned sections of the road into an impassable mire. The highway was improved in 1943. The 1,523 mile highway officially opened to the public in 1948.
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