FAIRBANKS, Alaska (KTVF) – After decades of use and deterioration, the North Slope Haul Road is in need of renovation, and the Alaska Department of Transportation has been working to improve the road for three years.
Some sections of the Dalton Highway have not been altered since the route was relocated in 1974. However, this 414-mile stretch of highway is subject to significant degradation from permafrost. Thawing permafrost has caused the roadway to settle, leaving long stretches at a similar slope to the surrounding terrain, which in turn worsens snow drifts and vehicle stability.
The area between mileposts 289 and 305 is one of those areas, located in a section nicknamed “No Man’s Land.” The 16-mile stretch of road currently being repaired lies just south of the Sag River.
While some drainage crossing work has been done on this part of the highway, the main carriageway has remained unchanged for decades. Currently, the Department of Transport is working to change this by rehabilitating the road to make it safer and reduce maintenance costs.
The work being done in this area is part of a multi-year project that is currently in its third year. Work along this section includes raising the grade of the road to prevent snow drifts. The Department of Transportation is also grading and widening the road, making it 32 feet wider, replacing broken culverts, and making some alignment changes to avoid utility conflicts with the Alyeska gas line.
This work began in May and is scheduled to be completed in the fall.
While this work is ongoing, there will be traffic disruptions as pilot vehicles are required for some sections of the corridor. The Department of Transport is also asking the public not to park or camp at layovers or construction sites on the motorway.
There are three other projects along the route, two of which are on the Elliott Highway.
Four more projects are also planned along the Dalton and Elliott freeways in the coming years to address similar issues.
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