Goldencrazy
madison wi
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Joined: 06/21/2007
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So who is in Watson Lake tonight. We are at the Downtown RV Park. Wall to wall rigs. Some are part of a caravan. Folks seem to be having fun. Quite a ride from Ft Nelson. The long gravel stretches sure provided a layer of dust to everyone. Nice to have a campground with free washing fascilities.
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JUrban
Delaware
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Joined: 06/28/2004
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If you think that part of the road was bad, wait till you get north of Beaver Creek. I haven't seen any appreciable change in that part of the road in 4 years, and this year was no different. Funny how they repair the parts the locals use, but despite the $$ the US contributes toward it's maintenance, the Alaska highway from the border to Beaver Creek NEVER seems to be repaired. No one working either. Alaska side has had a lot of work and is great all the way to Tok from the border.
John
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Zig
Indiana
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Joined: 09/15/2002
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Did you see our sign?
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Goldencrazy
madison wi
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Looking at signs this morning and will look for it. Taking it easy as we have short drive today to Whitehorse.
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iawia
Victoria, BC
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Joined: 01/31/2005
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JUrban wrote:If you think that part of the road was bad, wait till you get north of Beaver Creek. I haven't seen any appreciable change in that part of the road in 4 years, and this year was no different. Funny how they repair the parts the locals use, but despite the $$ the US contributes toward it's maintenance, the Alaska highway from the border to Beaver Creek NEVER seems to be repaired. No one working either. Alaska side has had a lot of work and is great all the way to Tok from the border.
John
Here's some info on funding of the Alaska Hwy http://www.hpw.gov.yk.ca/pdf/shakwakprojectbrochure09.pdf
iawia
97 Kodiak K99
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JUrban
Delaware
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iawia wrote:JUrban wrote:If you think that part of the road was bad, wait till you get north of Beaver Creek. I haven't seen any appreciable change in that part of the road in 4 years, and this year was no different. Funny how they repair the parts the locals use, but despite the $$ the US contributes toward it's maintenance, the Alaska highway from the border to Beaver Creek NEVER seems to be repaired. No one working either. Alaska side has had a lot of work and is great all the way to Tok from the border.
John
Here's some info on funding of the Alaska Hwy http://www.hpw.gov.yk.ca/pdf/shakwakprojectbrochure09.pdf Yep, my point is that little or NO work has been done on the section of the road north of Beaver Creek in the PAST 4 years, the area obviously least used by Canada. Perhaps a priority issue here? The permafrost issue seems to be reasonably well controlled in other areas of the highway, but just not here???--- or could it be a convenient excuse?
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explorenorth
Whitehorse, Yukon
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Joined: 02/21/2004
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There is little incentive for the Yukon to maintain the highway past Haines Junction and even less past Beaver Creek. Despite that, a short-term-gain contract was signed to the effect that if the US paid to rebuild the highway with Canadian labor, the Yukon would maintain it. Within weeks of being rebuilt, the section between Beaver Creek and the border was falling apart (in particular, there was a huge slump just east of the border). Now the Yukon has a highway 4 times the size it used to be to maintain, with no budget to actually do it. As rough as it is right now, it's still far better than when I started driving it commercially in 1990, though. Who knows how this will play out long-term........
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sue.t
Vancouver Island, BC, Canada
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Joined: 08/05/2004
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That whole area is prime muskeg country; spent many years flying the area (Beaver Creek is my hometown). Little lakes and ponds everywhere ... check Google Earth to see. You simply can't build a highway over muskeg. Much of the new construction was put over old construction and the permafrost was long gone. I think there's better success when the permafrost is protected and the road built over top.
In my day the Alaska Highway was gravel and frequently regraded to maintain a decent base. Now, with the asphalt, it's all gone to pot(holes!) in the Beaver Creek area.
And frost heaves! Sheesh ... "in my day" we didn't have the frost heaves through that area ... we had to wait until we were visiting Alaska to experience those!
South of Beaver Creek there is a test section that is a curious sight. Big funnels sticking out of the ground each side of the highway. My understanding is that it is an experiment to test heat removal techniques for permafrost protection, leaving the road in better condition. More info at http://www.hpw.gov.yk.ca/trans/engineering/765.html
Also note, the US government does not contribute towards maintenance of that section. It paid for the improvements, but does not assist with the annual maintenance and it is a near impossible area to maintain well.
sue t.
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mcgillagorilla
north pole ak
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when the alcan was gravel it was a lot better than when they paved it. when i first came up it in 1975 the canadians had the maintance down to a science. they kept it well graded with calcium chloride mixed in the top and it was great but you rig got dirty people complaigned and they paved it and what happened ground moved could not just blade and the large pot holes and frost heaves resulted.
bob mcgill
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snowfighter
talmoon.mn
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Joined: 10/02/2006
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Just got back from Minnesota to Kenai trip there was major road construction west of Destruction Bay all along Kluane Lake and new bridge being built.
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