Interstate Highways in Alaska

Dwight D. Eisenhower National System of Interstate and Defense Highways
Shields for Interstates in Alaska
Map of the Interstates of Alaska
System information
Length:	1,082.22 mi (1,741.66 km)
Formed:	1976
Highway names
Interstates:	Interstate A-n (A-n)
State:	Alaska Route n (AK-n)
System links
Alaska Routes Interstate U.S. Scenic Byways

The Interstate Highways in Alaska are all owned and maintained by the U.S. state of Alaska. The Alaska Department of Transportation & Public Facilities (DOT&PF) is responsible for the maintenance and operations of the Interstate Highways. The Interstate Highway System in Alaska comprises four highways that cover 1,082.22 miles (1,741.66 km). The longest of these is A-1, at 408.23 miles (656.98 km) long, while the shortest route is A-3, at 148.12 miles (238.38 km) long.

Interstates in Alaska follow the numbering system Interstate A-n, where n represents the number of the Interstate. This follows the similar numbering systems for Hawaii and Puerto Rico. Currently, all Interstates in Alaska are unsigned and are not generally referred to by their highway numbers. In fact, few Alaskans are aware of those numbers. The Interstate Highway System was expanded to Alaska in 1976, by the Federal-Aid Highway Act of 1976, which defined the system for Interstates in Alaska and Puerto Rico under Title 23, Chapter 1, Section 103 (c)(1)(B)(ii) of the U.S. Code.

Most of the lengths of the Interstates in Alaska are not constructed to Interstate Highway standards, but are small, rural, two-lane undivided highways. Title 23 provides that "Highways on the Interstate System in Alaska and Puerto Rico shall be designed in accordance with such geometric and construction standards as are adequate for current and probable future traffic demands and the needs of the locality of the highway." Some portions of these highways are built to Interstate standards, though. The Seward Highway, part of A-3, is built to freeway standards in Anchorage. The Glenn Highway, which is part of A-1, is built to freeway standards from Anchorage to Wasilla. A very small portion of the George Parks Highway, A-4, is constructed to freeway standards in Wasilla. In and around Fairbanks, the Richardson Highway, part of A-2, is constructed to freeway standards. In addition to these highways, the Johansen Expressway, in Fairbanks, and the Minnesota Drive Expressway, in Anchorage, are constructed to expressway standards.

Routes

Number	Length (mi)	Length (km)	Southern or western terminus	Northern or eastern terminus	Formed	Removed	Notes
1 !A‑1	408.23	656.98	Anchorage	Canadian border in Alcan Border	1976	current	Glenn Highway, Richardson Highway, Tok Cut-Off, Alaska Highway
2 !A‑2	202.18	325.38	Tok	Fairbanks	1976	current	Alaska Highway, Richardson Highway
3 !A‑3	148.12	238.38	Soldotna	Anchorage	1976	current	Seward Highway, Sterling Highway
4 !A‑4	323.69	520.93	Gateway, near Palmer	Fairbanks	1976	current	Parks Highway

Gallery

• 

  The Glenn Highway, eastbound near Glennallen, is part of Interstate A1.

• 

  An interchange between the Richardson Highway, part of Interstate A2, and Badger Road in Fairbanks.

• 

  The Sterling Highway, westbound near Homer, is part of Interstate A3.

• 

  The George Parks Highway, which comprises the entirety of Interstate A4.

See also

• Alaska portal
• U.S. Roads portal

External links

• Photos of Alaska Interstate Highway ends
• Alaska Interstates at AARoads' Interstate Guide