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Copper River Highway

Copper River Highway

Alaska · United States
73.0km
Distance
Route length
—
Elevation gain
Total ascent
90.0km/h
Avg. speed
Estimated
49min
Duration
Estimated time
5/100
Driving score
Overall score
Estimates are based on route characteristics and may vary with traffic, weather, road conditions, and driving style.
Twistiness
1.08×
LowAverageHighExceptional
Technicality
13°/km
LowAverageHighExceptional
What makes this road special

The Copper River Highway extends 49.5 miles (79.7 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. 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. The highway past mile 36 has been de facto abandoned since 2011 due to erosion of the approach to Bridge 339.

Source: Wikipedia (CC BY-SA)
Elevation profile

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