Anton Anderson Memorial Tunnel

USA / Alaska / Whittier / Portage Glacier Hwy
Until year 2000, the railroad was the only way to get to Whittier by land, and vehicles needed to drive onto car-carrier traincars to get through. The former train tunnel has been upgraded to allow one-way automobile traffic. Trains and autos alternate through the tunnel in 15-minute windows every 45 minutes.

* Longest highway tunnel in North America (13,300' or 2.5 miles).
* Longest combined rail and highway use tunnel in North America.
* First U.S. tunnel with jet turbine and portal fan ventilation.
* First computerized regulation of both rail and highway traffic.
* First tunnel designed for -40° F. and 150 mph winds.
* Portal buildings designed to withstand avalanches


www.dot.state.ak.us/creg/whittiertunnel/index.shtml
www.fs.fed.us/r10/chugach/chugach_pages/home/tunnel.htm
Photos: www.dot.state.ak.us/creg/whittiertunnel/virtualdrive.ht...

Live webcam: www.dot.state.ak.us/iways/roadweather/forms/CameraViews...
Wikipedia article: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Anton_Anderson_Memorial_Tunnel
Nearby cities:
Coordinates:   60°46'59"N   148°46'6"W

Comments

  • Live webcam from the Alaska DOT to see if there is a waiting line, or what the weather is like in the tunnel. http://www.dot.state.ak.us/iways/roadweather/forms/CameraViews.html?areaId=9&perspectiveId=2&siteId=33
  • This could be a shortcut to Anchorage because people don't have to go to Seward and waste gas. But the wait times are a pain.
This article was last modified 7 years ago