Alaska Route 2 is a state highway in the central and east-central portions of the U.S. state of Alaska. It runs from Manley Hot Springs to the Canada–United States border, passing through Fairbanks and Delta Junction. Alaska Route 2 includes the entire length of the Alaska Highway in the state, the remainder of the highway being in the Yukon Territory and British Columbia, Canada.

Alaska Route 2 marker
Alaska Route 2
Richardson Highway
Alaska Highway
Map
Route 2 highlighted in red
Route information
Maintained by Alaska DOT&PF
Length456.91 mi[1] (735.33 km)
Component
highways
Major junctions
West endTanana River in Manley Hot Springs
Major intersections
East end Hwy 1 south (Alaska Highway) towards Whitehorse, YT
Location
CountryUnited States
StateAlaska
BoroughsUnorganized, Fairbanks North Star
Highway system
AK-1 AK-3
Route 2, Delta Junction

Route description

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Route 2 begins at a dead end near the Tanana River at Manley Hot Springs, where the Elliott Highway begins. Until the junction with the Dalton Highway (Alaska Route 11) at Livengood, Route 2 is a minor road used only for local access; beyond Livengood it carries traffic to and from the Dalton Highway. At the junction with Alaska Route 6 (Steese Highway) at Fox, the Elliott Highway ends and Route 2 follows the Steese Highway south into Fairbanks. The Steese Highway becomes the Richardson Highway at Airport Way, the former route of the Parks Highway (Alaska Route 3). The Parks Highway junction is now about a mile south along the Richardson Highway, which then leaves Fairbanks to the southeast. In Delta Junction, at the northwest end of the Alaska Highway, Route 2 leaves the Richardson Highway for the Alaska Highway, while the Richardson Highway continues south as Alaska Route 4. After passing the ends of the Tok Cut-Off Highway (Alaska Route 1) at Tok and the Taylor Highway (Alaska Route 5) just beyond, Route 2 becomes Yukon Highway 1 at the Canada–United States border.[2][3]

History

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Proposed U.S. Route 97 designation

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U.S. Route 97
LocationAlaska Highway
Existedyes
HistoryProposed, but never designated

The Alaska Highway portion of Route 2 was once proposed to be part of the U.S. Highway System, to be signed as part of U.S. Route 97. This proposal was initiated after British Columbia renumbered a series of highways to British Columbia Highway 97 between the Canada–United States border at U.S. 97's northern terminus south of Osoyoos, and the border with the Yukon territory south of Watson Lake. The proposal was withdrawn after the Yukon declined to also renumber its portion of the Alaska Highway to '97', which would have then formed a continuous '97' designation from contiguous U.S. and through Canada to Alaska.[4]

Major intersections

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BoroughLocationmi[1]kmDestinationsNotes
UnorganizedManley Hot Springs0.000.00Dead endIn Manley Hot Springs, Tofty Road branches off from the highway and travels about 49 miles (79 km) northwest, before terminating just across the Yukon River from Tanana. Cars can be ferried across, or driven across in the winter.
Livengood85.69137.90 
 
AK-11 north (Dalton Highway)
Southern terminus of Alaska Route 11 / Dalton Highway
Fairbanks North StarFox153.86247.61 
 
AK-6 east (Steese Highway)
Western terminus of Alaska Route 6; Route 2 takes on the Steese Highway name
FairbanksChena Hot Springs RoadInterchange
Farmers Loop Road
162.94262.23Johansen Expressway westEastern terminus of the Johansen Expressway
164.96265.48Airport Way westEastern terminus of Airport Way
165.75266.75South Cushman StreetInterchange; westbound exit and eastbound entrance
165.97267.10 
 
AK-3 south (Parks Highway) – Nenana, Denali Park
Interchange
167.28269.21Lakeview Drive, Old Richardson Highway – Cushman Business AreaInterchange with at-grade intersection eastbound; no westbound entrance
169.93273.48Badger RoadInterchange
North Pole177.50285.66Badger Road, Santa Claus LaneInterchange
Buzby Road / Dawson RoadInterchange
Laurance RoadInterchange
SalchaPrice Drive
UnorganizedDelta Junction259.28417.27 
 
AK-4 south (Richardson Highway)
Northern terminus of Alaska Route 4; northern terminus of the Alaska Highway
Tok366.91590.48 
 
AK-1 west (Tok Cut-Off Highway) – Glennallen, Anchorage
Northern terminus of Alaska Route 1
Tetlin Junction379.36610.52 
 
AK-5 north (Taylor Highway)
Southern terminus of Alaska Route 5
International border456.91735.33  Hwy 1 east (Alaska Highway)Continuation into Yukon
1.000 mi = 1.609 km; 1.000 km = 0.621 mi

Future

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A 500-mile (800 km) road reaching Nome in western Alaska has been proposed at various times. Such a road had been suggested as early as 1957 as an extension of U.S. Route 97.[5][6] From 2009 onward, there has been a more intense political debate. A detailed cost investigation was funded by the state government, which in 2010 gave an estimated cost of $2.3 to $2.7 billion, or approximately $5 million per mile.[7][8] This price tag was higher than previously assumed and caused hesitation about the project.[9] A 35-mile (56 km) extension to Tanana opened in September 2016, although it has been defined as a local road, not Route 2, allowing a cost reduced more simple road.[10] As of August 2015, no decisions have been made to start construction of additional sections.

References

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KML is from Wikidata
  1. ^ a b Alaska Department of Transportation and Public Facilities, Northern Region General Log[permanent dead link], April 25, 2006 (Routes 153000 (Elliott Highway), 152000 (Steese Highway), 190000 (Richardson Highway), and 180000 (Alaska Highway))
  2. ^ Alaska Department of Transportation and Public Facilities, National Highway System Maps Archived 2009-07-27 at the Wayback Machine, April 2006
  3. ^ Alaska Department of Transportation and Public Facilities, Alaska Traffic Manual Supplement Archived 2007-09-27 at the Wayback Machine, January 17, 2003
  4. ^ "History". Highway 97 in British Columbia, Washington, Oregon, & California. Summit Solutions Ltd. 2011. Retrieved September 17, 2018.
  5. ^ Greuel, Val (May 3, 1957). "Road Building Program Slated: Nome-Fairbanks Link Will Be Pushed; Other Projects Ready". Fairbanks Daily News-Miner. p. 1. Retrieved November 14, 2021 – via Newspapers.com.
  6. ^ Fairbanks Daily News 7/29/1957 – FCC drive for road to Nome, Highway 97, photos Archived September 29, 2011, at the Wayback Machine
  7. ^ Cockerham, Sean (January 27, 2010). "Nome road could cost $2.7 billion". Anchorage Daily News. Archived from the original on January 30, 2010. Retrieved February 7, 2010.
  8. ^ "Western Alaska Access Planning Study Corridor Planning Report" (PDF). January 2010.[permanent dead link]
  9. ^ $3 billion road to Nome debated at public hearings[dead link]
  10. ^ Friedman, Sam (August 29, 2016). "New Tanana road is open, but river parking is for locals only". Fairbanks Daily News-Miner. Retrieved November 6, 2016.