You want to build a highway through Canada to Alaska? Why? That was the question in the 1920’s and 30’s when the highway was first proposed. Few people lived in the area and the economic impact didn’t justify the cost. Needless to say, there was little interest in such an enormous project.

By the time World War II started the Americans acknowledged the strategic military importance of a land route from the lower forty-eight states to the U.S. Territory of Alaska. If Japan invaded Alaska and/or blockaded the ports, there needed to be another way to get men and supplies to Alaska to defend the American territory closest to the Japanese homeland.

The U.S. Corps of Engineers was assigned the task of building the road which was officially started in March, 1942, when seven engineering regiments arrived in Dawson Creek, Canada. The railroad ended at Dawson Creek so this was designated the starting point for the Alaska Highway. Three of the seven regiments consisted of African-American soldiers and the other four regiments consisted of white soldiers. At that time, the U.S. Armed Forces were segregated so these regiments were kept separate. About 10,000 men were assigned to building the highway.

The engineers plowed through the Canadian wilderness following only trails. They had to adapt to the climate and learn how to keep their equipment running in the cold weather. The men lived in tents so conditions were not ideal for anyone.

Work proceeded in opposite directions from designated points along the route of the highway. At one point, an African-American regiment worked in one direction toward a white regiment. The iconic picture above shows the representative from the 97th Engineers Regiment shaking hands with the representative of the 18th Engineers at the point where they met at Beaver Creek, Yukon Territory, Canada. The meeting, on October 25, 1942, completed the last section of the road. It had taken only eight months to build a 1500 mile road through the wilderness of Canada and Alaska.

For more information you can follow this link to a PBS article about building the Alaska Highway and this link to another PBS article about the men who built the highway.

Watch the video for a visual account of building the Alaska Highway. These color images vividly show the terrain the engineers faced, as well as their hard work and dedication to this vital war project.

If you are still interested and want even more information about the Alaska Highway, watch this longer, more detailed documentary.