Orignal pavement on the Alaska Highway (3 of 3)
Of course, in the early years the Alcan was not paved. Sections today still shouldn't be paved due to permafrost and what that does to solid pavement. As I drove the Highway I eventually began to realize that most of the current pavement roughly paralleled an older road...so I went exploring where it was not too difficult. Here the new route runs within fifty yards of the previous one, its curves mimicing the old one. The extreme winters and in particular the permafrost breaks down any asphalt not being constantly attended to. Note the residual portions of the yellow center stripe.
Orignal pavement on the Alaska Highway (3 of 3)
Of course, in the early years the Alcan was not paved. Sections today still shouldn't be paved due to permafrost and what that does to solid pavement. As I drove the Highway I eventually began to realize that most of the current pavement roughly paralleled an older road...so I went exploring where it was not too difficult. Here the new route runs within fifty yards of the previous one, its curves mimicing the old one. The extreme winters and in particular the permafrost breaks down any asphalt not being constantly attended to. Note the residual portions of the yellow center stripe.