| After the discovery of oil in the desolate area of | | | | companies could finally commence construction on |
| Prudhoe Bay, Alaska in 1968, the need for a | | | | the haul road in 1974. Dalton Highway is the |
| system of transporting oil from the region | | | | present day road that evolved from the original |
| became apparent. Upon considering several | | | | pipeline haul road, on which construction began on |
| options, involved oil companies settled on | | | | April 29, 1974. After five months of construction, |
| constructing an elaborate pipeline system which | | | | the haul road was completed in September, and |
| would transport oil from Prudhoe Bay in the North | | | | thus construction on the Trans-Alaska Pipeline |
| Slope to the Port of Valdez, where it could be | | | | began the following March. |
| picked up by oil tankers for shipment to the lower | | | | In depth evaluations of the environment during |
| 48 states. The project was to begin with the | | | | the planning stages led to design modifications |
| construction of a haul road to carry supplies and | | | | from the originally planned underground pipeline. |
| workers to the remote areas through which the | | | | The threat of structural support issues in |
| pipeline would transport oil over miles of | | | | earthquake prone areas and areas with unstable |
| mountains, rivers and streams. | | | | permafrost led to a design with more than half of |
| While the pipeline system was determined to be | | | | the length of the pipeline being constructed above |
| the most economical option that would meet the | | | | ground. Heat from underground pipeline can thaw |
| logistical needs of the oil companies, it was not | | | | the permafrost, and thus underground pipeline |
| met without opposition from native villagers and | | | | construction is limited to areas with stable, solid |
| environmental activists. Natives filed a law suit to | | | | rock. |
| prevent the haul road from being built through | | | | In just over two years, the approximately 800 |
| their land, and several environmental groups filed | | | | mile pipeline was completed between Alaska’s |
| suit based on claims that construction of the | | | | North Slope and the Port of Valdez. Juneau |
| pipeline would violate the National Environmental | | | | became the first vessel to pick up crude oil from |
| Policy Act (NEPA) as well as the Mineral Leasing | | | | the Port of Valdez that had made the journey |
| Act of 1920 (MLA). The project was delayed for | | | | from Alaska’s North Slope. Today, the |
| several years due to lawsuits and red tape in | | | | Alyeska Pipeline Service Company, which is a |
| obtaining federal and state right of way and all of | | | | conglomerate of several pipeline companies, |
| the required permits for the project. | | | | operates and maintains the pipeline and offers |
| Having overcome years of obstacles, the | | | | educational tours to the public. |