Copper River Highway
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| Copper River Highway |
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| Length: | 56.4 mi[1] (90.8 km) | ||||
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| South end: | 2nd Street in Cordova | ||||
| North end: | North of the Million Dollar Bridge over the Miles Glacier | ||||
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- See also: Alaska Route 10
The Copper River Highway extends 56.4 miles (90.8 km) from Cordova along the old railbed of the Copper River and Northwestern Railway. Construction began in 1945, and was originally intended to link Cordova with the state highway system at Chitina. The Million Dollar Bridge, which had carried trains until the CR&NW shut down, was converted for highway use. It is one of two discontinuous segments of Alaska Route 10.
The road extended only slightly beyond the bridge when the Good Friday Earthquake of 1964 halted construction and severely damaged the Million Dollar Bridge, collapsing the north span. Temporary repairs were made, and the bridge continued to be used, despite being unsafe. Permanent repairs were not completed until 2005.
The first 12 miles (19 km) of the highway is paved; the rest is gravel. A primitive four-wheel-drive road continues for 10 miles (16 km) beyond the end of the highway to the Allen River.
[edit] References
- ^ Google maps. estimate.
