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Alaska Department of Transportation and Public Facilities

NORTHERN REGION
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Dalton Highway MP 18-37 Reconstruction
Project No. Z607350000/0652017

Project Area Overview of project area for the Dalton Highway MP 18-37 Reconstruction project.

Project Background

The Dalton Highway is designated as a rural principal arterial and provides the only vehicle access from Fairbanks to Deadhorse, serving as a critical supply route between commerce and industrial centers. The project is needed due to sub-standard road geometry and failing embankment sections on this key economic link for the state of Alaska.

Project Purpose

The purpose of this project is to upgrade the Dalton Highway to enhance safety, performance, and reduce DOT&PF’s maintenance costs. This project will reconstruct the Dalton Highway between MP 18 and MP 37, including drainage improvements, widening, and replacement of Hess Creek Bridge. The existing alignment has steep grades and sharp horizontal curves, resulting in lost time and added cost to the approximately 60% truck traffic on the route. Maintenance has identified several locations along the route that result in significant annual maintenance costs.

Project Scope

The project proposes to reconstruct the Dalton Highway between MP 18 and 37 (19 miles). Specific work includes:

  • Embankment stability improvements between MP 18 and MP 23
  • Highway realignments (vertical and horizontal) where deficient roadway geometry does not meet 50 mph design speed standards
  • Replacement of the Hess Creek Bridge (MP 24)
  • Updated signing and guardrail
  • Completed in 2023
    • Blasting at materials sites
    • Constructed a temporary detour bridge at MP 24.5
    • Closed and demolished the existing Hess Creek Bridge (MP 23.7)
    • Began construction of the new Hess Creek Bridge (MP 23.7)
    • Began culvert installation and embankment construction
  • Plans for 2024
    • Finish construction of the new Hess Creek Bridge and open it to the public
    • Remove the temporary detour bridge at MP 24.5
    • Continue and complete culvert installation and embankment construction

Current Status

Construction on this project began in 2023. Work will resume in summer 2024 and is expected to be complete in fall of 2024.