This year the Alaska pipeline celebrates its 40th birthday. The project started in 1977 and cost $ 8 billion to complete in then year dollars. This engineering marvel snakes its way from Prudhoe Bay on the North Slope all the way down the state to the southern port of Valdez in Prince William Sound, a total of 800 miles.
ALYESKA PIPELINE MAP
During my recent trip I was fortunate to bookend the pipeline with stops in Prudhoe Bay and Valdez.
ALYESKA PIPELINE SNAKES ITS WAY ACROSS THE ALASKAN LANDSCAPE
The zig-zag design of the pipeline mitigates expansion and contraction due to temperature changes as well as to reduce vulnerability to earthquakes.
During our drive from Fairbanks to Valdez, the pipeline was our constant companion as it paralleled the Richardson Highway.
CLOSE UP OF THE FOUR FOOT DIAMETER PIPELINE
ALYESKA SAFETY NOTICE
TANANA RIVER PIPELINE BRIDGE
FBI PIPELINE NOTICE
VALDEZ PIPELINE MARINE TERMINAL
OIL TANKER AT MARINE TERMINAL DOCK, VALDEZ