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Historic Properties Management Plan, Cooper Lake Project (FERC No Alaska Roads Historic Overview Applied Historic Context of Alaska’s Roads Prepared for Alaska Department of Transportation and Public Facilities February 2014 THIS PAGE INTENTIONALLY LEFT BLANK Alaska Roads Historic Overview Applied Historic Context of Alaska’s Roads Prepared for Alaska Department of Transportation and Public Facilities Prepared by www.meadhunt.com and February 2014 Cover image: Valdez-Fairbanks Wagon Road near Valdez. Source: Clifton-Sayan-Wheeler Collection; Anchorage Museum, B76.168.3 THIS PAGE INTENTIONALLY LEFT BLANK Table of Contents Table of Contents Page Executive Summary .................................................................................................................................... 1 1. Introduction .................................................................................................................................... 3 1.1 Project background ............................................................................................................. 3 1.2 Purpose and limitations of the study ................................................................................... 3 1.3 Research methodology ....................................................................................................... 5 1.4 Historic overview ................................................................................................................. 6 2. The National Stage ......................................................................................................................... 9 2.1 From early road building to the Great Depression .............................................................. 9 2.2 Depression and New Deal era programs .......................................................................... 13 2.3 Federal funding and policy transforms post-World War II roads ...................................... 15 3. On the Road: Alaska’s Road Development ............................................................................... 19 3.1 Influence of Alaska’s geography and climate ................................................................... 19 3.2 Alaska’s early trails and roads (1886 – 1904) ................................................................... 23 3.2.1 Setting the stage for road development and exploration (American Period – 1886) .................................................................................................................... 23 3.2.2 Gold rushes and development of early transportation routes (1886 – 1904) ...... 26 3.2.3 Conclusion ........................................................................................................... 37 3.3 Development of Alaska’s early road system (1905 – 1929) ............................................. 37 3.3.1 Establishment and early efforts of the Alaska Road Commission ....................... 39 3.3.2 Road building in response to economic development ......................................... 41 3.3.2.1 Roads to support mining ......................................................................... 41 3.3.2.2 Roads supporting agricultural and other economic ventures ................. 47 3.3.3 Administrative and funding changes as Alaska becomes a territory ................... 48 3.3.4 World War I and Alaska’s road system at the end of the war .............................. 49 3.3.5 Alaska’s road system: The ARC’s 10-year plan .................................................. 49 3.3.6 Cooperation between road-building agencies and changing responsibilities ...... 54 3.3.7 Roads to areas other than mines ......................................................................... 55 3.3.8 Roads to connect transportation modes .............................................................. 57 3.3.9 1920s road building in perspective ...................................................................... 58 3.3.10 Conclusion ........................................................................................................... 59 3.4 The impact of the Depression years on Alaska (1930 – 1940) ......................................... 59 3.4.1 ARC and BPR efforts during the 1930s ............................................................... 59 3.4.1.1 Funding ARC road work during the Depression era ............................... 62 3.4.1.2 Prioritizing roads and ARC accomplishments during the Depression era ........................................................................................................... 64 3.4.2 CCC involvement in road and trail construction ................................................... 67 3.4.3 Competition between the ARC and the Alaska Railroad ..................................... 68 \\msn-fp01\entp\2704700\114816.00\TECH\final\130109A.docx i Table of Contents 3.4.4 Proposed International Highway .......................................................................... 69 3.4.5 The close of the 1930s ......................................................................................... 72 3.4.6 Conclusion ........................................................................................................... 73 3.5 World War II and the postwar years transform Alaska (1941 – 1958) .............................. 73 3.5.1 War and military impact on road building ............................................................. 75 3.5.1.1 The Army’s Alaska Highway and its heritage ......................................... 81 3.5.2 Improved access and connectivity during the postwar era .................................. 87 3.5.2.1 Roads to access agricultural areas and to support industry ................... 90 3.5.3 Alaska’s inclusion in the FAHA ............................................................................ 94 3.5.4 Conclusion ........................................................................................................... 97 3.6 Transition to statehood and expansion of highways (1959 – 1965) ................................. 98 3.6.1 Statehood and the Omnibus Act of 1959 ............................................................. 99 3.6.2 State highway department road building focus and initiatives ........................... 100 3.6.2.1 Accessing resources ............................................................................. 104 3.6.3 Federal road-building efforts in Alaska .............................................................. 105 3.6.4 Good Friday Earthquake impacts the road network .......................................... 106 3.6.5 Conclusion ......................................................................................................... 108 3.7 Reawakening of old priorities and development of new aims: earthquake reconstruction to the oil boom (1965-1977) .................................................................... 108 3.7.1 State road-building initiatives ............................................................................. 109 3.7.1.1 Highway reconstruction, safety, and beautification .............................. 110 3.7.1.2 Urban road development ...................................................................... 112 3.7.1.3 Connecting communities: completion of the Parks Highway ................ 114 3.7.1.4 Local service roads and trails ............................................................... 115 3.7.1.5 Roads to resources ............................................................................... 117 3.7.2 Federal road-building initiatives ......................................................................... 124 3.7.3 Conclusion ......................................................................................................... 125 3.8 Recent road development (1978 – present) ................................................................... 125 3.8.1 State road development initiatives ..................................................................... 127 3.8.1.1 Alaska’s Interstate System .................................................................... 128 3.8.1.2 Upgrade of primary highways and Alaska’s National Highway System .................................................................................................. 131 3.8.1.3 Urban and rural roads improvement ..................................................... 131 3.8.1.4 Rural transportation planning ................................................................ 132 3.8.1.5 Renewed efforts to access resources ................................................... 133 3.8.2 Tourism in Alaska............................................................................................... 134 3.8.2.1 Scenic Byways ...................................................................................... 135 3.8.3 Federally owned and maintained roads in National Forests .............................. 137 3.8.4 Conclusion ......................................................................................................... 137 4. Road Engineering ...................................................................................................................... 139 4.1 Introduction ..................................................................................................................... 139 4.2 Geography and climate ................................................................................................... 139 \\msn-fp01\entp\2704700\114816.00\TECH\final\130109A.docx ii Table of Contents 4.2.1 Regional overview .............................................................................................
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