Alaska Highway

Alaska Highway
Alaska Highway highlighted in red
Route information
Length	2,232 km[2] (1,387 mi) (as of 2012)
Existed	1942[1]–present
Component highways	Highway 97 Hwy 1 AK-2
Major junctions
South end	Highway 2 / Highway 97 (John Hart Highway) in Dawson Creek, BC
Major intersections	Highway 29 in Charlie Lake, BC Highway 77 near Fort Nelson, BC Hwy 4 in Watson Lake, YT Hwy 37 near Upper Liard, YT Hwy 6 at Johnsons Crossing, YT Hwy 8 at Jakes Corner, YT Hwy 2 in Carcross Cutoff, YT and Whitehorse, YT Hwy 3 at Haines Junction, YT AK-5 at Tetlin Junction, AK AK-1 in Tok, AK
North end	AK-2 / AK-4 (Richardson Highway) at Delta Junction, AK
Location
Countries	Canada, United States
Provinces	British Columbia
States	Alaska
Territories	Yukon
Major cities	Fort St. John, BC; Fort Nelson, BC; Watson Lake, YT; Whitehorse, YT; Tok, AK; Delta Junction, AK
Highway system
British Columbia provincial highways
Territorial highways in Yukon Miscellaneous
Alaska Routes Interstate Scenic Byways
← Highway 95A BC 97 → Highway 97A ← Hwy 37 Hwy 1 → Hwy 2 ← AK-1 AK-2 → AK-3

The Alaska Highway (French: Route de l'Alaska; also known as the Alaskan Highway, Alaska-Canadian Highway, or ALCAN Highway) was constructed during World War II to connect the contiguous United States to Alaska across Canada. It begins at the junction with a few Canadian highways in Dawson Creek, British Columbia, and runs to Delta Junction, Alaska, via Whitehorse, Yukon. When it was completed in 1942, it was about 2,700 kilometres (1,700 mi) long, but in 2012, it was only 2,232 km (1,387 mi). This is due to the realignments of the highway over the years, which has rerouted and straightened many sections. The highway opened to the public in 1948.^[1] Once legendary for being a rough, challenging drive, the highway is now paved over its entire length.^[2] Its component highways are British Columbia Highway 97, Yukon Highway 1, and Alaska Route 2.

An informal system of historic mileposts developed over the years to denote major stopping points. Delta Junction, at the end of the highway, makes reference to its location at "Historic Milepost 1422".^[2] It is at this point that the Alaska Highway meets the Richardson Highway, which continues 155 km (96 mi) to the city of Fairbanks. This is often regarded, though unofficially, as the northwestern portion of the Alaska Highway, with Fairbanks at Historic Milepost 1520.^[2] Mileposts on this stretch of highway are measured from the port of Valdez on Prince William Sound, rather than the Alaska Highway. The Alaska Highway is popularly (but unofficially) considered part of the Pan-American Highway, which extends south (despite its discontinuity in Panama) to Argentina.^[3]