America’s Historic Roads
Puzzle 77 · Building and Remembering the Network · Page 107 in print
The Alaska Highway
The Alaska Highway’s pioneer road connected Dawson Creek and Delta Junction in 1942. Work continued afterward: the permanent alignment was completed in 1943, and civilian travel officially began in 1948.
Jump to a word
The words
Alcan
Common short name for the Alaska-Canada Highway.
Alfred Jalufka
Soldier of the 18th Engineers shown at the joining point.
Beaver Creek
Yukon location of the photographed construction meeting.
Broken Axles
Mechanical failures caused while moving heavy vehicles.
Cold Snaps
Periods of severe cold during highway construction.
Contact Creek
Destination area of the guides’ southeastward route.
David Johnston
Guide who worked alongside John K. Thorn.
Dawson Creek
British Columbia endpoint of the pioneer highway.
Delta Junction
Alaskan endpoint of the pioneer highway.
First Nations
Indigenous communities whose members guided highway construction.
Fred Spencer
Soldier pictured with men leaving for the highway project.
John K Thorn
Teslin guide who assisted highway surveyors.
Mosquitoes
Summer insects encountered by highway workers.
Refines Sims
Soldier of the 97th Engineers shown at the joining point.
Teslin
Home community and starting area of the guiding party.
Sources
- Black History in the Last Frontier: Alaska Highway EngineersNational Park Service
- Alaska Highway East interpretive planGovernment of Yukon
- About the Alaska HighwayPublic Services and Procurement Canada