ALCAN Highway
It has been about 10 years since we have traveled the Alcan. Anyone that drove it this summer, is it still basically a mess? Ten years ago it was a nightmare with road work etc. How is it now?
Forum Discussion
sue.t wrote:
Sigh...the Alcan hasn't existed for decades. It is officially called the Alaska Highway, for more than half a century now.
Alcan was the label for the US military project for construction of the original dirt road.
Yeah, I take it kind of personal since I grew up on the Alaska Highway, Mile 1204 to be precise. :D
Ah, Sue T, Back in the '70's 1202 was shorthand for Beaver Creek. Guess that put you outside Canadian Customs, sort of in the land between the inspections.
To the question, with experience on the road dating only to 1969, I would call it pretty good condition throughout. We last came south around 20 August. The worst conditions had been patched or totally rebuilt. The conditions will be different next year, and every year after.
West of Whitehorse, YT, expect road damage from discontinuous permafrost. North of Ft Nelson do not be surprised by road damage and very narrow shoulders. In Alaska road damage can be anywhere, but especially the Richardson Hwy, anything north of the Alaska Range, and the to and from Tok roads.
As you see the big trucks fly through the damaged areas, remember. The driver gets paid by the mile, the driver has no investment in either the truck or the cargo (yes I know some do), and their suspension is quite a bit more robust than what you are driving.
